Year in Review: Top ten batsmen in One Day Internationals in 2013

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli – Rise of consistency

Arguably India’s best batsman this year, the Delhi cricketer seems to be channelling his natural aggression in a positive manner. It has translated into substantial scores at such high frequency that people now expect him to score at least a half century in every game!

Kohli looks a different player every time he steps out on to the field. He doesn’t try to hit every delivery into the stands, but rather bides his time, working the singles and twos, before opening up. His aim to be more consistent has resulted in many a match-winning innings.

When he demolished Sri Lanka single-handedly at Hobart in February 2012, it was the first sign of growing maturity that the youngster displayed. He went on to make more adjustments in his game, fine-tuning every aspect – including playing the short ball – and put in the grind. The results were plain for all to see – he became the fastest to reach 17 ODI centuries, evoking comparisons with the legendary maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

With Yuvraj Singh misfiring, the onus of shepherding the middle order will fall on Kohli’s shoulders. If he can maintain his consistency in 2014 as well, we may see a successor to Sachin sooner rather than later!