Best ODI batsman in the World: Top Batting Legends Of All Time

Let’s be real: when you think of ODI cricket, you think of The Little Master himself, Sachin Tendulkar. Over 24 years, he smashed records and made history, cementing himself as the ultimate ODI legend.

18,426 runs. 49 centuries. 96 fifties. Numbers that sound more like cheat codes than a career. And remember 1998? Nine centuries and nearly 1,900 runs in a year? No one’s even come close.

Then there’s the iconic moments. 2010, Gwalior. First-ever double century in ODIs. 2011 World Cup? India’s highest scorer, leading the charge to a historic win. And let’s not forget his 673 runs in 2003—he was on fire.

Tendulkar was the backbone of Indian cricket, especially in the ‘90s when the team was trying to find its groove. Whether it was that game-changing hundred in the 2012 Asia Cup or just constantly being the guy to turn up when needed, his name became synonymous with consistency.

Off the field, he’s got a Bharat Ratna, an ICC Hall of Fame spot, and a legacy that’s solid as a rock.

With a SportsBoom Score of 95.62, it’s safe to say, Tendulkar’s the undisputed king of ODIs. 

Virat Kohli isn’t playing the game—he’s owning it. At 34, the Run Machine has stacked up a mind-bending 13,906 ODI runs with an unreal average of 58.18. Oh, and he’s now tied with the legend himself, Sachin Tendulkar, at 50 centuries in the format. Let that sink in for a second—Kohli’s breathing down the neck of cricketing immortality.

Dubbed the Chase Master for a reason, Kohli’s numbers in run chases are nothing short of GOAT-worthy. He’s hammered 26 tons and 36 fifties chasing totals, with 22 of those centuries coming in successful hunts. Pressure? Nah, this guy eats it for breakfast.

And when it comes to bullying bowlers, Kohli doesn’t hold back. He’s got a ridiculous 10 hundreds against Sri Lanka—the most ever against a single team. Then there’s the Windies (9 tons) and Australia (8 tons), just to remind everyone he’s an equal-opportunity destroyer. Add to that his record as the fastest to 13,000 runs in ODIs—he hit it in just 267 innings (seriously, nobody’s come close). 

Oh, and 2023 was Vintage Kohli. He’s smashing it at a strike rate of 115.5—the best of his career. In his 16th year of international cricket, Kohli has already logged 1,000+ runs in seven calendar years. The man’s a machine, plain and simple.

On the trophy side, he’s ICC’s golden boy with 10 awards (the most ever), including four ODI Player of the Year titles. After helping India snag the 2024 T20 World Cup, he walked away from T20Is, but he’s still killing it in ODIs and Tests. 

With a SportsBoom Score of 89.78, the real question isn’t if Kohli’s going to smash more records—it’s how soon.

With 13,704 ODI runs (that’s a casual third on the all-time list), Ricky Ponting’s bat did most of the talking. And those 30 centuries? That’s an Aussie record no one’s touching anytime soon.

When it came to captaining, Punter was that guy. He led Australia in 230 ODIs, bossing the field like no other. Back-to-back World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007? Easy. Oh, and he was part of the 1999 squad too—just to remind you who’s boss. His 220 wins across formats were pure captaincy goals.

Ponting’s secret sauce was showing up when it mattered. Twenty-five of his ODI hundreds came in winning games. And don’t even get us started on his World Cup game—1,743 runs, second only to Tendulkar. Not bad company, huh?

His batting style was pure poetry in motion, with a little “catch me if you can” for bowlers. From crisp drives to fearless pulls, Ponting made scoring look way too easy. He wasn’t just about the runs, though. As a slip fielder, he was a magnet for catches (and trouble for batters).

After calling it a day on his Test career in 2012, Punter kept it cool, switching gears to coaching and commentary. But let’s not forget his role in making Australia cricket’s ultimate powerhouse.

Ponting has a SportsBoom score of 74.69. Sounds about right for the guy who turned winning into an art form.

When it comes to wicket-keeper batters, Kumar Sangakkara didn’t just raise the bar—he sent it to the moon. With 14,234 ODI runs (yep, second only to the Little Master himself), this Sri Lankan legend carved a legacy that still shines bright.

Let’s talk about World Cups. Sangakkara smashed four centuries in a row during the 2015 World Cup—no one else has even come close. Add 1,532 runs across four World Cups at an average of 56.74, and you’ve got a big-game player who thrived under pressure. 

Also, he captained Sri Lanka to the 2011 final. Sure, they fell short against India, but Sanga’s class was undeniable that year, bagging the ODI Cricketer of the Year and ICC People’s Choice Award.

Out of his 25 ODI tons, 18 came in games Sri Lanka won. Toss in 54 winning half-centuries for good measure. Add his record-breaking 28,016 international runs (only Sachin has more), and he’s in a league of his own.

Post-retirement, Sangakkara’s been everywhere—commentating, leading the MCC, coaching in the IPL, and even joining the Hall of Fame in 2021. But here’s the kicker: he’s now padding up for Dorset Division 3 side Shillingstone CC. 

With a SportsBoom score of 74.63, he’s not just a stat machine; he’s the cricketing definition of style, skill, and sheer brilliance.

Rohit Sharma flipped the script in 2013 when he was promoted to opener during the Champions Trophy. India won the title, and Rohit found his groove. That year, he smashed over 1000 runs—a milestone he casually repeated in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Speaking of 2019, it was vintage Hitman. Sharma stacked up 1490 runs, seven centuries, and a ridiculous five of those came during the World Cup. He topped the charts with 648 runs at a jaw-dropping average of 81 and strike rate of 98.3. The semis might’ve been a heartbreaker for India, but Sharma’s bat was on fire.

But wait—let’s talk double hundreds. Sharma’s 209 against Australia in 2013 was just the appetizer. Months later, he cooked up the biggest knock in ODI history: 264 against Sri Lanka. That’s right, 186 of those runs came just in boundaries (33 fours, nine sixes). And because one or two double tons weren’t enough, he hit a third in 2017—208 not out. No one else has done that even once, let alone thrice.

Now in 2023, Sharma’s leading the Indian team into the World Cup fresh off an Asia Cup win. He’s sitting pretty with 31 ODI centuries, third behind Tendulkar and Kohli, and over 10,000 ODI runs in just 205 innings—the second fastest to the mark. As captain? An average of 54.76 and 1369 runs to his name.

With a SportsBoom score of 69.83, Rohit Sharma’s a one-man record machine. With the World Cup on the horizon, the Hitman’s got his eyes set on lifting that trophy—and probably smashing a few more records along the way. Game on.

Yo, if you don’t know who Sanath Jayasuriya is, where have you been? He flipped the entire ODI script. Back in the ‘90s, when openers were all about playing it safe, Jayasuriya and his partner Romesh Kaluwitharana came in, bats blazing, and changed the game forever. 

The 1996 World Cup? Yeah, Jayasuriya was the MVP. And while his bat did the talking, don’t forget he could ball too. With 13,430 runs and 28 centuries, he was dropping records like it was nothing. Let’s not forget, he’s the only player to score 10,000+ runs AND take 300+ wickets in ODIs. Legend status unlocked.

But Jayasuriya wasn’t just about the runs. His leadership in the 2007 World Cup final and the 2009 ICC World T20 showed that he wasn’t just a player, he was a boss. Fast forward to his retirement in 2011, and he’s still got cricket vibes going strong—whether it’s as a coach, selector, or even dabbling in politics (because why not?).

ST Jayasuriya’s SportsBoom Score? A solid 67.11, ‘cause this legend’s place in history is set for life.

Jacques Kallis? Simply put, he’s one of the best to ever do it. His stats are insane. The only cricketer to score over 10,000 runs and take 250+ wickets in both ODIs and Tests. 

In the Test arena, he piled up 13,289 runs, took 292 wickets, and smacked 45 centuries. That’s next-level consistency. And let’s not forget his Man-of-the-Match swag—23 times in Tests, making him the leader in that category.

Oh, and that 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy? Kallis was a beast, leading South Africa to their only ICC win, taking 5 wickets for 30 runs in the final. Iconic.

Fast forward to his career numbers: 17 centuries in ODIs, 86 fifties, and an average that most players would dream of. But even after calling it quits in 2014, he’s still in the game, with a stint as a batting consultant for the South African team. And in 2020, he got his well-deserved spot in the ICC Hall of Fame.

With a SportsBoom score of 66.65, Kallis is a straight-up legend. No one else quite like him, ever.

Sourav "Dada" Ganguly – the name that echoes through every cricket fan's heart. A game-changer, a captain, and one of India’s finest batsmen. 

With over 11,000 runs in ODIs and 22 centuries, he’s a big deal. Known as the "God of the Off-Side," he carved his name in history with those elegant square drives and cover drives. Simply put, if you needed a visual of dominance, Ganguly was it.

Under his leadership, India claimed the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, and made a mark in the 2003 World Cup. The guy who wasn’t afraid to take the bold decisions, all while keeping his team ahead in the game.

His career wasn’t just about stats. It was about leadership that mattered. His 183 against Sri Lanka in the World Cup is a record that still stands, and those 72 fifties? Pure consistency.

Retiring as a player didn’t slow him down – now he’s running things as the BCCI president. Ganguly’s impact is way beyond the field. His SportsBoom score might be 65.05, but his legacy? Unbeatable. A true legend.

MS Dhoni—Captain Cool, the finisher, and the guy with ice in his veins. From smashing his way onto the scene in 2004 to lifting trophies like it was no big deal, Dhoni’s story is pure legend.

Remember that unbeaten 183 against Sri Lanka? Still the highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs. And those 229 sixes? Fifth on the all-time list.

As a captain, he was untouchable. Three ICC trophies—the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Add Asia Cup wins in 2010 and 2016, and Dhoni’s trophy cabinet is basically overflowing. In ODIs, he captained 200 games, winning 110 (a slick 55% win rate). No wonder the world couldn’t get enough of him.

And then there’s the IPL. Dhoni turned Chennai Super Kings into a dynasty, with five titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023) and two Champions League T20 trophies. Oh, and he was the first wicketkeeper to cross 5,000 IPL runs. Not bad for a small-town kid from Ranchi, huh?

With over 10,000 ODI runs at a ridiculous average of 50.57, Dhoni wasn’t just consistent—he was a game-changer. Add to that a Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and an honorary army rank, and you’ve got an all-time great.

With a SportsBoom score of 64.79, MS Dhoni defined cricket.