Top 4 Indian ODI run scorers in 2018

Team India is currently touring Australia, which includes two T20Is, four Test matches, and three ODIs. The One Day Internationals will begin on the 12th of January in 2019.

In 2018, India has played 20 One Day internationals touring South Africa and England away while hosting the West Indies at home. They also took part in the Asia Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Men in Blue's top order has scored consistently throughout the year whereas the middle order seems to be in a fix. With the World Cup looming around the corner, India will be looking to address their middle order issues and will be hoping for their middle order to fire just in time before the world cup.

As we reach the end of the year and no more ODI matches to play until next year, it is time to assess the players who have contributed with terrific performances.

Let's take a look at the top run scorers for India in ODI's in 2018 so far.

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#4 Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu

After making his debut in the 2013 tour of Zimbabwe, Rayudu has been in and out of the team. Despite having a healthy average, he was not able to cement his place in the middle order due to his low strike rate.

In 2018, his career received a fresh start as he starred in the IPL scoring 602 runs in 16 innings at an astonishing strike rate of 149.75. This performance earned him a call-up into the Indian team for the Asia Cup. Since then, he has scored 392 runs in 10 innings at an average of 56 and an improved strike rate of 90.74.

His consistency has given the team management a little less to worry about their middle order that has under-performed this year. His notable contribution includes the brilliant 100 he scored against the West Indies in the fourth ODI of the home series.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan

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Gabbar will hold the key to India's world cup chances.

Even though he lost his place in the Test side after a string of failures, Shikhar Dhawan has remained brutal against the white ball. After top scoring in the Champions Trophy last year, he continued to display his red-hot form in the ODIs and T20Is this year.

He is not shy in taking on the bowlers with his aggressive intent and his overall strike rate of 94.28 is proof of how destructive he can be.

Dhawan began by scoring 323 runs with an average of 64.60 against South Africa at a staggering strike rate of 104.19. He followed that up by top-scoring in the Asia cup with 342 runs at an average of 68.40 which included a 127 against Hong Kong and 114 against Pakistan. Even though he had a poor home series against the West Indies, one cannot ignore how important he is to this Indian batting order.

This year, "Gabbar" has scored 897 runs with an average of 49.83 at a strike rate of 102.28, which includes three centuries and two fifties.

#2 Rohit Sharma

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Hitman will look to continue his good run of form.

Since his establishment as an opener in 2013, Rohit Sharma's career graph has raised the bar every year. Nicknamed as the 'hit-man' he destroys the opposition with his elegant stroke play.

He currently holds the record for the second most sixes hit by an Indian in ODIs after MS Dhoni, with 202 sixes, and is sixth on the all-time list. This year alone, he has hit the most number of sixes with 39 of them to his name.

In 2018, he began by scoring a brilliant 115 against South Africa and followed it up with a scintillating knock of 137 against England. Although these were his only notable contributions in both the series, he showcased his consistency in the Asia Cup with 317 runs at an average of 105.66 and finishing second behind his fellow opener Dhawan on the top run scorers list.

In the home series against West Indies, Sharma continued his blistering form scoring 389 runs at an average of 129.66 with a high score of 162.

Since 2013, this is the third time that Rohit has scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year. His record in 2018 stands out with 1030 runs at an average of 73.57 and strike rate of 100.09 including five centuries and three fifties.

#1 Virat Kohli

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He just never stops getting better.

Kohli is undoubtedly the best player in the modern era. He scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year seven times (2010-2014, 2017, 2018) since his debut in 2008. At this rate, Kohli can go on to break records with ease. He is the kind of player who thrives on the pressure that has earned him the title of the chase master.

2018 has been extraordinary for Kohli. Even though he didn't feature in the Asia Cup, Kohli stands on top of the list for most runs scored in ODIs in 2018.

He began by smashing 558 runs with an astonishing average of 186 against South Africa which included three centuries. Such was his form that he went on to score 191 runs in England with an average of 63.66. His breathtaking form continued when he took on the West Indies bowling and scored 453 runs at an average of 151 which included three centuries.

Kohli's overall record in 2018 stands at 1202 runs in just 14 innings, with a startling average of 133.55 and a strike rate of 102.55 which includes six centuries.