Top 4 run-scorers for India in ODIs in 2018

Team India won their final ODI series of this year comfortably by a 3-1 margin against the relatively fragile West Indies cricket team. Team India is now set to play a three-match T20I series, four-match Test series, and three-match ODI series in Australia. The Australian tour is set to commence with the three-match T20 series which will then be followed by Test and ODI series.

The three-match ODI series will begin only on January 12, so it's safe to assume that India won't be playing any more ODI cricket this year.

India has played a total of 20 ODI matches this year and won 14 matches out of them. They lost four matches and tied matches. Team India has a win percentage of 75% in ODIs this year, which is the highest among all ODI nations.

So, in this slideshow, we are going to take a look at the top four consistent batsmen for India in ODI cricket this year.

Here are top four run-scorers for India in ODI cricket this year.

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#4 Ambati Rayudu - 392 runs (11 matches)

Rayudu was not part of the ODI team at the start of this year but he made a comeback into the Indian ODI side after a highly impressive stint with CSK in IPL 2018.

The current number 4 position batsmen in the Indian ODI line-up, Ambati Rayudu is the fourth highest run-getter for India in ODIs this year.

Rayudu was not part of the ODI team at the start of this year but he made a comeback into the Indian ODI side after a highly impressive stint with the returning CSK team in the IPL this year. He was initially selected for ODI series in England but was later replaced because he could not clear the mandatory Yo-Yo test.

In the preceding months, he managed to clear the test and got selected to represent India in the Asia Cup. Since then he has been a regular member in the playing XI and has managed to hold onto his place by playing some crucial innings.

He has played 11 ODI matches this year and scored 392 runs at an impressive average of 56 including one century and three fifties. His highest ODI score, 100 this year came against West Indies last month.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan - 897 runs (19 matches)

Shikhar Dhawan along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli form one of the most lethal and successful trios in ODI cricket history.

Shikhar Dhawan has been a very consistent ODI opener in the last few years. He along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli form one of the most lethal and successful trios at the top of the order in ODI cricket history. India's top-3 batsmen's prolific run-scoring form has managed to overshadow the vulnerabilities in India's middle order in the last two years.

Keeping in mind about the World Cup next year, India would want their ODI opener Shikhar Dhawan to be in top form going into next year as he has been the standout performer for India in most of the multinational tournaments India played in the last five years.

Dhawan has played 19 ODI matches this year and scored 897 runs at an impressive average of 49.83 including three centuries and two fifties. His highest ODI score of 127 this year came against Hong Kong during the Asia Cup.

#2 Rohit Sharma - 1030 runs (19 matches)

Rohit Sharma's ability to construct perfect ODI innings on a consistent basis has earned him plaudits from all the corners of the world.

Rohit Sharma is currently the best ODI opener in the world, his ODI record in last few years acts as an alibi to this fact. His ability to construct perfect ODI innings on a consistent basis has earned him plaudits from all the corners of the world.

Rohit Sharma was the second highest run-scorer in ODI cricket last year just behind the Indian skipper Virat Kohli. For the second year in a row, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might finish the calendar year as the top two leading run scorers in ODI cricket as they currently hold the first and second positions.

Rohit Sharma has played 19 ODI matches this year and scored 1030 runs at an impressive average of 73.57 including five centuries and three fifties. His highest ODI score of 162 this year came against West Indies at Brabourne stadium last month.

#1 Virat Kohli - 1202 runs (14 matches)

Premium batsman of this generation - Indian captain Virat Kohli

In the last few years, Virat Kohli name has almost become synonymous with most of the records in ODI cricket. He was the highest run-scorer in ODI cricket in 2017 and by the looks of it, he set to hold onto the pole position yet again this as he currently tops the ODI run charts this year. He is currently 172 runs ahead of the second-placed Rohit Sharma.

Virat Kohli played relatively less number of matches than other members on this list but still managed to outscore them quite easily.

Virat Kohli has played 14 ODI matches this year and scored 1202 runs at an astronomical average of 133.55 including six centuries and three fifties. His highest ODI score 160* this year came against South Africa at Capetown in February. He scored his runs at a wonderful strike rate of 102.55 this year.