All-time right-handers ODI XI - 2019

Cricket, over the years, has witnessed a lot of top-class right-handed players, be it batsmen or bowlers. The left-handers are comparatively but it takes a special talent to shine for a cricketer when he is a right-hander. Just like Sachin Tendulkar did during his playing days or the way the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are batting these days. Be it the record of three double-centuries in ODIs by Rohit Sharma or the record of scoring the highest number of ODI runs by Sachin Tendulkar, the right-handers are proud holders of many unique records in the 50-over format. It is obvious to say that their playing hand is secondary. But, it is the skills and determination which make them a quality player. The game has also witnessed quality right-arm bowlers like Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Malcolm Marshall, Brett Lee and many more who have been very impressive in the limited-overs format. The current generation has also produced players who have aced all others with their class and performances in the ODI format. From the likes of Indian skipper Virat Kohli to young Afghanistan player Rashid Khan, there is a tremendous pool of talented cricketers who are making a mark at the highest level at the moment. Here we bring you the all-time best right-handed XI in ODIs: 1. Vivian Richards Viv Richards. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto/Getty Images) Aggressive batting was not a very common sight in the 1970s and 80s, but the term aggression is an understatement when it comes to describing Viv Richards’ batting. Devastating would be a better term. The player from Antigua would slowly walk into the crease without wearing a helmet accompanied by huge cheers from the crowd. He would easily smash bowlers across the globe and the poor fielders were just reduced to being ball-boys who would run to the fence and fetch the ball. Richards was a part of the World Cup-winning Windies side of 1975 and 1979 and even scored a century in the latter’s edition of the final to help his side to the title. Playing 187 ODIs, he scored 6721 runs at a very impressive average of 47 with the highest score of 189. The best part was that he scored all his ODI runs at a strike rate of 90.2 which was quite an achievement for the players in that era. Richards, in 1994, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the game. 2. Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Sachin Tendulkar has been the most complete batsman of his time and arguably the biggest icon of the sport, the world has ever seen. The Master Blaster had made his ODI debut way back in 1989 and he played his last game in the format in 2012. He was the first player to score a double-century in the Men’s cricket in ODIs. Sachin played six ODI World Cups from 1992 to 2011 during his illustrious career and also featured in two finals, 2003 and 2011, winning the title finally at his home group at the Wankhede stadium. In 2011, he finally managed to get his hands on the trophy at his home ground in Mumbai. He played 463 ODIs for India, amassing 18426 runs at an average of 44.83 with a massive 49 tons including a double century as well. 3. Ricky Ponting Ricky Ponting of Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) Ricky Ponting is probably the best batsman to have ever played in ODIs batting at number 3. He was an aggressive right-handed batsman who loved taking on the quick bowlers with drives and pulls. Once set, he was a good player of spin-bowling as well. Ponting was always famous for his fielding and deadly accuracy in hitting the stumps. The Tasmania-born cricketer made his ODI debut in 1995 and played his last match in 2012. He has been a part of five World cups from 1996 to 2011 out of which Australia won titles in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He led the team to the glory in 2003 and 2007. “Punter” played 375 ODIs for Australia, scoring 13704 runs at an average of 42.04 with 30 centuries in his career. 4. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman going around in all the three formats of the game. Having Kohli in the team sheet is like a blessing. He has worked a lot on his fitness and at the moment he is one of the fittest cricketers in the world. The current Indian skipper has embarked on his ‘most challenging’ World Cup and has got a massive responsibility on his shoulders of leading the side. The Delhi batsman made his ODI debut in 2008 and has been very consistent till date. The chase master has played 227 ODIs and elegantly scored 10,843 runs with an average of almost 60. He has smashed 41 centuries and is all set to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most centuries in ODIs (49). He averages close to 100 in India’s successful chases and no wonder is the best player while going after the target. 5. Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Jacques Kallis is one of the best all-rounders to have ever played the game of cricket. He had everything in him which a cricketer dreams of. A very good batting technique, decent fast medium bowling abilities and a safe pair of hands. The cricketer from Cape Town is the only player to score over 10,000 runs and take more than 250 wickets in both the formats of the game (Tests and ODIs). He played in five World Cup editions for South Africa starting from 1996 and the last one being 2011. The all-rounder played 328 ODIs and scored close to 11,579 runs with a brilliant average of 44.36. He was effective with the ball too accounting for 273 wickets at an economy rate of less than 5. Kallis was one of the best fielders, especially in the slips. He was a complete package any team would love to have. 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk) MS Dhoni. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) The cricketer from Jharkhand is one of the best finishers around in the ODI format. He is a brilliant wicket-keeper who is like a flash behind the stumps. “Mahi” has the ability to hit gigantic sixes and has one of the sharpest cricketing brains in the world. He made his ODI debut in 2004 and is expected to play a major role in the upcoming World Cup as well which is speculated to be his last. This will be his fourth World Cup appearance having played in 2007, 2011 and 2015 editions before. Under his leadership, India ended their 28-year World Cup drought in 2011 and also led the team to a semi-final during their title defence in 2015. MS Dhoni has played 341 ODIs for India scoring 10,500 runs at an average of more than 50. He is the most successful captains of India in ODI format with 110 wins under his leadership. Fans would love to see the World Cup in his hands again before he bids adieu to the game. 7. Imran Khan Imran Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Imran Khan is one of the most influential names in Pakistan. The all-rounder from Lahore was a very good captain and only a few people would’ve imagined then that he will be the future Prime Minister of Pakistan today. He was an inspiration for the thousands of Pakistani youngsters to take up fast bowling. He was an aggressive batsman down the order as well who could hit the ball very hard. He was a very good exponent of the reverse swing. He led the Pakistan ODI team to their only World Cup title in 1992. He served his country in 175 ODIs scoring 3709 runs with 19 fifties and century and picked 182 wickets with his medium pace bowling. The legendary cricketer hung his boots on a high after winning the 1992 World Cup final. 8. Shane Warne Shane Warne. (Photo Source: Twitter) Probably one of the best spinners in the world, Shane Warne made his ODI debut way back in 1993. He was a leg-spinner who bamboozled many great batsmen across the globe with his variations in years to follow. The Victorian is no mug with the bat either as he played a few vital innings lower down the order for the then invincible Australian side. He has played in two World Cup editions for Australia (1996 and 1999). He was adjudged as the Man of the Match in the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan. Warne featured in 194 ODIs in which he picked 293 wickets at an impressive average of 25.73. He last played in an ODI in the yellow jersey in 2005. 9. Muttiah Muralitharan Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Muralitharan. (Photo by ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) The spin legend from Sri Lanka is one of the best spinners in the world along with Shane Warne. He made his ODI debut in 1993 against India and played his last ODI against the same opposition in the final of the World Cup 2011 which Sri Lanka lost. The Kandy-born cricketer was an off-spinner who dominated all the top batsmen across the globe. He turned the ball a long way and was famous for bowling his variation ball “Doosra” which turned like a leg-spin. He represented Sri Lanka in five ODI World Cups from 1996 to 2011 and was a part of the Sri Lankan side that lifted the trophy in 1996. In 350 ODIs, he accounted for 534 wickets at an average of 23.08. He took as many as ten five-wicket halls in the 50-over format. He is one of the champion bowlers the world has ever witnessed. 10. Glenn Mcgrath Glenn McGrath. (Photo Source: Twitter) The tall fast-medium bowler from New South Wales is probably batting a number higher at number 10. But, he is in this team for his bowling abilities. Mcgrath was known for his accuracy and he foxed batsmen throughout his career with immaculate line and length. He extracted a lot of bounce from the wicket and troubled a lot of good batsmen across the world. Also hailed as Pigeon, he made his ODI debut in 1993 and played his last match in 2007 World Cup. He represented Australia in the four editions of the World Cup (1996-2007) and was a member of the sides winning the title in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He played 250 ODIs, taking 381 wickets at a brilliant average of 22.02. 11. Courtney Walsh Courtney Walsh. (Photo Source: Twitter) A genuine tail-ender who is basically in the team for his bowling abilities. Courtney Walsh made his ODI debut in 1985 and played his last match in the format in 2000. He used to bowl a nagging line outside the off-stump to the right-handers and got a lot of wickets with the new ball. The tall fast bowler had a very deceptive slower delivery which was very effective especially in the death overs. Walsh bowled a magnificent spell of 5 wickets conceding only 1 run against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1986 which is still regarded as one of the best spells in the 50-over format. He represented Windies in three World Cups in 1987, 1996 and 1999. The Jamaican bowler played 205 ODIs for his team and registered 227 wickets to his name at a miserly economy rate of less than 4.

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