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) Yuvraj Singh (Photo Source: Twitter) 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. 9. Adam Gilchrist (AUS) Adam Gilchrist. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arguably the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman ever, Adam Gilchrist had to make this list. The left-handed batsman was a vital part of the Australian squad, which ruled world cricket in the 2000s. While his glovework was precise, his ability with the bat was even more daunting. Gilchrist liked to go after the bowlers from the word go and dismantled many bowling attacks. While the southpaw used to unleash carnage at number seven in Tests, he opened the innings in ODIs to take full toll of the fielding restrictions. He was terrific against both pace and spin as the opposition captain was often found biting his nails when Gilchrist was having a good day at the office. While Gilchrist played numerous sensational knocks, his mayhem against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup finals will be the highlight of his career. Facing the likes of Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan, the swashbuckler scored runs all over the park and scored 149 off mere 104 deliveries. Australia eventually won the summit clash by 53 runs and Gilchrist received the Man of the Match award. 8. MS Dhoni (IND) MS Dhoni. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) The former Indian captain is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers ever. Hence, he was sure to make this list. Before becoming a calculative player, MS Dhoni was a dasher who liked to clear the ropes with his astonishing hits. Amid any condition or circumstance, the right-handed batsman backed himself to hit the ball long. On top of that, Dhoni scored runs consistently with this approach and took just 42 innings since his debut to become the top-ranked ODI batsman, the least for any player. As time progressed, the wicketkeeper-batsman altered his game with the added responsibility of leadership on his shoulders. Dhoni started giving more emphasis on his wicket and staying till the end. However, this didn’t mean he became any less effective. The right-handed batsman was still a force to reckon with thanks to his ability to dominate in the death overs. As a result, India got over the line in many cliffhangers. 7. Jos Buttler (ENG) Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: Getty Images) We have another wicket-keeper in this happening list, and he’s none other than Jos Buttler. The England batsman is a sweet striker of the ball who can hit sixes all over the park. If it’s a length delivery, Buttler will smash you straight down the ground. The yorkers will travel to the fine leg region while the bouncers can be dispatched to various parts, depending upon Buttler’s mood. In short, the margin of error is minimal. An inch missed, and Buttler will make you pay. On top of that, the wicket-keeper also doesn’t tend to throw his wicket cheaply. Hence, he averages nearly 39 in ODIs and also has a strike rate of over 118. He also has nine centuries in 148 ODI matches. Notably, we are talking about someone who regularly bats at number six. If that’s not enough, Buttler is also responsible for the top two fastest ODI centuries by an England batsman. At 30, the Somerset-born cricketer still has a long way to go and fans must brace themselves to witness a lot of fireworks from Jos Buttler. 6. Chris Gayle (WI) GRENADA, GRENADA – FEBRUARY 27: Chris Gayle of the West Indies. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) Next on the list is the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. Destruction is almost synonymous to Gayle as the southpaw loves to slam tall sixes while standing still. The West Indies legend has been demolishing bowling line-ups for the last two decades and is still going strong. The West Indian powerhouse has played some absolute blinders in the ODIs and even has a double-century in the format. Although you can find some chinks in his technique, one can just sit and enjoy the show the Gayle is on a song. On top of that, his cheeky and uncanny celebrations make him an even greater entertainer. Not to forget, Gayle is also the highest run-getter for West Indies in ODIs with 10,480 runs in 301 games. Now, this is a mountain to climb, and replicating Gayle’s brilliance over the 22 yards would be daunting for any other Caribbean batsman. 5. Vivian Richards (WI) Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Cricket Australia) One Caribbean follows another as we rank Sir Vivian Richards fifth in this list. In an era where batsman believed in showing resistance to stay at the crease, Vivian Richards attacked bowlers with his mesmerizing stroke play. The former West Indies captain was indeed ahead of his time as playing dodged defense never seemed his style. Instead, Richards went about his business with flair and dismantled one bowling line-up after another. However, he was never a slogger. The right-handed batsman played appropriate shots and ruled world cricket for 16 years. What made Richards different from another is his swagger and mental strength. As a result, he scored 6721 runs in 187 ODIs with a strike rate of over 90. Not to forget, he also had an average of 47. These numbers are sensational even by today’s standards. Hence, one can imagine how dangerous Richards would have been during his playing days. 4. Shahid Afridi (PAK) Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Shahid Afridi’s cricket career will be remembered for several things and big-hitting was one of them. The all-rounder didn’t like to waste too much time as ‘see the ball and hit the ball’ was his policy. Owing to this, Afridi played several scintillating knocks in his illustrious career and guided Pakistan to numerous wins. Afridi also holds the record of slamming the fastest ODI ton by a Pakistan player. He reached the three-figure mark off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996, which remained the fastest ODI ton for nearly two decades. There have been times when his consistency has been questioned. Nonetheless, whenever Afridi clicked, he pushed the opposition out of the contest. In fact, the former Pakistan captain is the only player to score over 8000 ODI runs at a strike rate of over 110. However, sending the ball over the fence wasn’t the only aspect of Afridi’s game. He was also a brilliant leg-spinner who bamboozled many batting line-ups with sheer brilliance. 3. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) Sanath Jayasuriya. (Photo Source: Twitter) Jayasuriya’s rise in international cricket was parallel with Sri Lanka’s emergence as a cricketing powerhouse. At the start of his career, the southpaw was seen as a utility cricketer who could bowl handy overs and also chip in with his batting. However, it was the year 1996 when Jayasuriya started opening the innings, and what followed next isn’t hidden from anyone. The left-handed batsman attacked bowlers from the outset and revolutionised the role of an opener. He put up a stellar show in the 1996 World Cup as Sri Lanka went on to lift their maiden title. Jayasuriya didn’t look back since then and played several stunning knocks across all formats. He eventually ended his glorious career with 13430 runs in 445 ODI games, the fourth-highest for any batsmen to date. If that’s not enough, Jayasuriya also scalped 323 wickets in the format comprising four five-wicket hauls. 2. Virender Sehwag (IND) Sehwag 219 vs Windies. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Nawab of Najafgarh holds the second place in this list, and why not? Virender Sehwag played his game with the simple mantra, an attack is the best form of defence. He was an absolute destructor, and his obsession with hitting boundaries off the first ball was even more frustrating for opposition teams. Be it pace or spin, the former Indian opener tackled all bowlers with aggression and scored runs across the globe. Sehwag didn’t move his feet too much but relied on his magnificent hand-eye coordination to unleash mayhem against quality bowling attacks. In fact, there have been times when Sehwag has single-handedly demolished opposition bowlers and took India over the line. One of his most memorable ODI knocks is his double century against West Indies in 2011. Sehwag scored a match-winning 219 in that game, the highest score by an ODI captain to date. Sehwag eventually bid farewell to all forms of cricket in 2015 and gave a sigh of relief to many bowlers all over the world. 1. AB de Villiers (SA) AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: Twitter) Now, do we need to justify why the South African dasher tops this list? AB de Villiers is arguably the best batsman to have ever graced the game, and his staggering numbers back the fact. In 228 ODIs, the swashbuckler scored 9577 runs at a strike rate of over 100 and an average of 50. De Villiers hardly suffered from bad form in his international career and constantly tore down bowling line-ups with his brilliance. In fact, his ability to play astonishing sweeps and scoops earned him the title of ‘Mr. 360.’ Regardless of the pitch conditions, match circumstances, or quality of bowling line-ups, the Proteas star backed his natural game and played one attacking knock after another. The dasher also holds the record of smashing the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in ODI cricket. Moreover, he was the top-ranked ODI batsman for the major part of his career. This was the reason why the Proteas fans badly want him to break retirement and serve South Africa cricket again.

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Ranking 10 most destructive batters in ODI cricket history

Three Indian batters in the elite list.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)

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