Ranking 10 most destructive batters in ODI cricket history

The game of cricket has witnessed numerous changes since its inception. Test cricket was the lone format for a long time, with two teams battling it out for days. However, ODI cricket came into the picture in the 70s, and several rules were changed. Along with resistance, batters needed to show aggression to score runs, and a greater emphasis was given to strike rate.

As a result, batters changed their approach and horizontal shots, which weren’t given much admiration before, became an essential aspect of the game. The batsmen subsequently became attacking, and runs were scored all over the park. Sweeps and scoops were also invented as time progressed. However, one thing which never went out of fashion is saving wickets. After all, you need to stay at the crease to score runs.

It’s indeed a fact that a bowler needs just one delivery to get a wicket, while a batsman has to toil hard to make a mark. Owing to this, many batters have been apprehensive while taking risks, even in ODI cricket. However, some dashers don’t like to play this way. All they understand is that the ball belongs to the boundary, and their job is to send it to the destination.

Here we rank the top 10 destructive batsmen in ODI cricket:

10. Yuvraj Singh (IND)

The man behind India’s two successful World Cup campaigns, Yuvraj Singh, is 10th on this list. The former Indian all-rounder was nothing short of a captain’s delight in his prime days due to his three-dimensional abilities. Alongside being a dasher, the southpaw was also a live wire on the field and a handy left-arm spinner.

However, it’s his big-hitting prowess that will be remembered the most. The left-handed batsman was an absolute destructor when on song, and many prominent bowlers have become victims of his carnage. Hitting sixes was not a big deal for Yuvraj as he just needed a flick to send the ball in the night sky.

Speaking of Yuvraj’s sixes, it would be a crime not to mention his show against Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Following a heated argument with Andrew Flintoff, the left-handed batsman smashed Broad for six sixes in an over. He also played many such knocks in ODI cricket and guided India to numerous wins in his illustrious career.