10 Active batsmen with highest career ODI averages 

In Test or ODI cricket, different yardsticks are used to gauge the pedigree of a top order batsman. Statisticians are kept busy all through the cricketing season for working out averages, strike rates, centuries and conversion ratios to decipher who is the best among the rest. Of all the statistical parameters, the average for a very long time has been used as a standard benchmark to measure the consistency of a batsman at scoring runs. Average may not be the best measure but is certainly a fair yardstick to indicate how productive a batsman has been over a period of time.

Over the years, an ODI average of over 40 was considered the cut off for being considered a great batsman. All great ODI batsmen of yesteryears like Sir Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Kumara Sangakarra ended up with an impressive 40 plus batting average in their respective ODI careers. With the pitches getting flattered and batting friendly, the 40 mark has inched toward the 45 mark.

In the last decade or so, we have seen some batting maestros like Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers and Hashim Amla taking batting to another level and scoring runs with superlative consistency. It doesn’t come as a surprise that some batting stalwarts boast of ODI averages of over 50.

So let us have a look at who are the top ten active batsmen with the highest average in ODIs. For my selection, i have only considered those batsmen who are actively playing ODI cricket for their respective nations. I have only considered those batsmen who have at least scored 1000 ODI runs.

Before we run through the top 10 list, a look at the active batsmen who average more than 40 in ODIs.

Australia - David Warner 43.43, Steven Smith 41.84

India - Rohit Sharma 44.98

South Africa - Faf Du Plessis 44.40

New Zealand - Martin Guptill 42.99

Sri Lanka - Angelo Matthews 42.73

England - Jos Butler 40.35

(Min Run Qualification - 1000 runs)

Note - AB De Villiers with a career ODI average of 53.5 misses out as he retired from international cricket in February 2018

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Just Missed the Cut

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is arguably one of the most destructive openers in ODI cricket. The ‘Hitman’ has built a reputation of sorts as a slayer of bowling attacks in white ball cricket. Blessed with enormous talent, Rohit has one shots too many to make the best attacks look ordinary. His penchant to score massive double tons and win games for India is no hidden secret.

Rohit has strung a lethal opening pair with fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan and provided the much required initial thrust for the Indian ODI team. Rohit has been supremely consistent with his run-scoring as an opener and has handsomely contributed to India becoming a potent force in ODI cricket.

Rohit Sharma ODI Record

Matches 183 Runs 6748 Avg 44.98 100s 18 50s 34

#10 Quinton De Cock

Quinton De Cock

Quinton De Cock has been South Africa’s explosive opening batsman in ODI cricket for the last five odd seasons. The wicket-keeper batsman with his power packed hitting is one of the cleanest strikes of the red cherry. De Cock gets the Proteas off to some fliers in the power plays and also had the ability to play the long innings scoring some match winning tons. Once set, he usually converts his starts into big hundreds and takes his team across the line. The left hander's innings are generally laden with boundaries and his runs come at quite a fair pace. De Cock's potent opening partnership with the seasoned Hashim Amla has really augured well for South African cricket.

Quinton De Cock ODI Record

Matches 93 Runs 4073 Avg 45.25 100s 13 50s 17

#9 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has been a quality opener for India in one day cricket. Dhawan has forged a formidable opening partnership with Rohit Sharma and given India the stability at the top of the order. The left hander plays the role of an aggressor up the order by taking on bowling attacks in the power plays. 'Gabbar' has been quite consistent with his run scoring spree in the shorter format and hardly fails with the willow.

Shikhar has shown his batting exploits on the pacy and bouncy pitches in England where he emerged as the leading run scorer in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Post Gautam Gambhir’s retirement, Dhawan has been the most dependable left-handed opening batsman for India in limited-overs cricket.

Shikhar Dhawan ODI Record

Matches 105 Runs 4481 Avg 45.72 100s 13 50s 25

#8 Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson has been New Zealand’s batting mainstay in ODIs. Williamson’s batting is pleasing to the eye as his shot making exhilarates pure elegance and class. The Kiwis strokemaker's batting is modeled more on the classical model where he caresses the ball rather than bludgeoning the same.

Kane has been highly effective for the Black Caps in the middle order as an efficient run accumulator. Besides being a master at milking the singles, Williamson also has an attacking dimension to his game and can change guard if the situation demands so.

Kane Williamson ODI Record

Matches 121 Runs 5156 Avg 46.87 100s 11 50s 33

#7 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla

Seasoned opener Hashim Amla has been South Africa’s perennial run scorer at the top of the order. The wristy and elegant stroke player has been a consistent run-getter for the Proteas for over a decade. Amla's flawless technique and sound temperament has turned him into South Africa’s batting mainstay in ODIs.

Amla has a penchant to score big hundreds and scores them at a fast pace. He is equally adept at playing the sheet anchor’ role when Quinton De Cock goes all guns blazing at the top of the order. South Africa’s silent assassin with the willow has been a thorn in the flesh of many a bowling attacks in ODI cricket.

Hashim Amla ODI Record

Matches 169 Runs 7696 Avg 49.65 100s 26 50s 36

#6 Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow has surprised many critics with his stupendous run in ODI cricket. Generally considered as more of a wicket-keeper batsman, Bairstow changed gears in no time and become an explosive weapon with the willow for England in the limited overs format. An attacking batsman, Bairstow likes to play his shots and keeps the scoreboard ticking.

Bairstow's consistent run getting has been a big bonus for England in ODIs and added depth to their already strong batting order. Bairstow’s good run with the bat has given England the option of fielding the dangerous Jos Butler as a specialist batsman.

Jonny Bairstow ODI Record

Matches 51 Runs 1962 Avg 50.30 100s 6 50s 7

#5 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has arguably been one of the best finishers in ODI cricket. Dhoni with his calm and cool demeanor has won many a match for India with his whirlwind cameos down the order. 'Mahi' certainly packs a punch with his hitting prowess.

Dhoni’s ability to withstand pressure and hold his nerve under nerve-racking situations has been his biggest strength. It has been a regular sight in Indian cricket to see Dhoni take games away from the opposition by unleashing a barrage of strokes at the dead end of a game.

MS Dhoni ODI Record

Matches 321 Runs 10046 Avg 51.25 100s 10 50s 67

#4 Joe Root

Joe Root

Joe Root is the backbone of the English batting lineup in ODI cricket. Root is the rock in England’s middle order and scores runs with superlative consistency. The Yorkshire lad has a typical English touch to his batting as most of his shots are technically correct and straight from the batting manual.

Batting at the coveted number three position, Root has loads of patience and can play the sheet anchor’s role to build the innings. Much of England's recent success in ODIs has been on account of Root's brilliant run of form with the bat. The skipper's mere presence in the middle order is certainly a calming influence for the English batting unit.

Joe Root ODI Record

Matches 116 Runs 4800 Avg 51.61 100s 13 50s 28

#3 Babar Azam

Babar Azam

Babar Azam has been Pakistan’s most accomplished batsman in ODI cricket. Ever since making his debut, Azam has been a consistent run-getter across diverse conditions and is the lynchpin in Pakistan’s middle order. Azam announced himself on the world stage by scoring three tons against the West Indies at Sharjah.

There was no looking back from Azam after striking that purple patch and he cemented his place as a dependable number three for Pakistan. Babar’s presence in the middle order provides stability to Pakistan's batting.

Babar Azam ODI Record

Matches 46 Runs 1973 Avg 54.80 100s 8 70s 7

#2 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been India’s run-scoring machine in ODIs. The Indian captain has spearheaded the batting efforts for the 'Men in Blue' and anchored many daunting chases. Kohli’s staggering consistency to churn out high scores sets him apart from the rest of the field. The Indian skipper has perhaps the best century per innings ratio and makes his innings count once he gets his eye in. The hallmark of Kohli’s batting is the way he paces his innings to perfection in his pursuits to win games for India.

Pace or spin, Kohli has dominated quality bowling attacks with his conventional yet enthralling strokeplay. With an untiring zeal to succeed and burning ambition to win India matches, Virat Kohli continues to shatter batting records one after the other and is destined to reach loftier heights in what is already a stellar career.

Virat Kohli ODI Record

Matches 211 Runs 9779 Avg 58.20 100s 35 50s 48

#1 Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman has announced himself on the ODI arena with a bang. The left-handed Pakistan opener has impressed one and all with his opening exploits. An aggressive left-hander who takes on the bowling attack right from ball one, Zaman has a plethora of shots in his armory.

Zaman has notched up a series of impressive scores and brought an end to Pakistan’s opening woes in ODIs. His blistering ton against India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final and a belligerent double ton have catapulted him to being one of the finest openers. Zaman has been in a rich vein of form scoring at a staggering average of 76. Zaman shattered the record books by becoming the fastest to score 1000 runs in ODIs.

Fakhar Zaman ODI Record

Matches 18 Runs 1065 Avg 76.07 100s 3 50s 6