India has a long history of producing elite-level cricketers and run-scoring batsmen in particular. There have been dozens upon dozens of Indian batsmen over the years that have struck fear in the hearts of cricket’s best bowlers. Indian batsmen fear nobody and always seem to be able to adapt to any conditions. These are ten of the best Indian batsmen of all time.
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Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is not only India’s greatest-ever batsman but one of the best players to have ever picked up a cricket bat. The Bombay-born legend played in his first international test match on November 15, 1989, and retired almost precisely 24 years later. During that time, Tendulkar played in 200 test matches and scored 15,921 runs for an average of 53.78, including 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries! The legend’s highest score was 248, not out!
Tendulkar’s ODI record was also phenomenal, with 18,426 runs, a highest score of 200 not out, and an average of 44.83!
During his long, illustrious, and record-breaking career, many people claimed a bonus from the BetUS sportsbook review page and bet on Tendulkar being the top scorer whenever he took to the field. That prediction usually ran true because Tendulkar was simply that good of a batsman.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is the only Indian batsman to get anywhere near Tendulkar’s ODI run tally; Kohli has 12,344 runs to his name to date. Kohli has played 201 fewer ODI games than Tendulkar, but Tendulkar played first-class cricket until he was 40, and Kohli is still only 33 years old. Could Kohli break Tendulkar’s batting records before he calls time on his impressive career?
Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly’s incredible batting ability, mainly through the off side, earned him the nickname “God of the Off Side.” Ganguly scored 11,221 ODI runs across 297 innings, with an average of just shy of 41 runs per innings.
Ganguly was a great bowler, too, taking 100 ODI wickets and 32 test wickets as a right-arm medium bowler.
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is one of only five Indian batsmen to break through 10,000 ODI international runs, putting him among some esteemed company. Dravid is also the fourth-highest test match run scorer in history, with 13,288 runs from 164 tests. Unsurprisingly, Dravid is a member of the ICC Hall of Fame.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is the fifth Indian player to reach at least 10,000 ODI international runs; Dhoni has 10,599 runs on his record. Dhoni’s ODI average of 50.23 runs is second only to Kohli in Indian cricketing history, showing how incredible Dhoni was at the limited-overs game.
Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin played 99 test matches and 334 ODI internationals for India and scored more than 15,000 runs across both disciplines. Azharuddin was an exceptional fielder who enjoyed 261 catches in tests and ODI games. Sadly, Azharuddin was caught up in a match-fixing scandal in 2000, but there is no denying Azharuddin was a fantastic talent.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is the current captain of the Indian ODI team, a format in which he thrives. Sharma currently has 7,376 runs for a 41.58 average. Sharma holds the record for the highest individual ODI score (264) and is the only player in history to have enjoyed three double-centuries in one-day internationals.
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh played his last ODI international for India in June 2017; he played 304 ODI during his international career, scoring 8,701 runs. Singh reached that impressive total with the help of 14 centuries and 52 half-centuries. Singh also played 40 test matches where he scored 1,900 runs.
Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag represented India from 1999 to 2013. he played 104 test matches and 251 ODI games for the Indian national team, scoring 8,586 test match runs and an additional 8,273 ODI runs. Sehwag is a passionate man who thrilled crowds with his aggressive batting style. He once scored 319 runs in 278 balls against South Africa, which is a test match record that holds today.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is the first-ever Indian to score an ODI century before lunch, managing the impressive feat in June 2018 against Afghanistan. Dhawan has scored 6,574 runs in 156 ODI games and an additional 2,315 runs in 34 test matches. He has seven test match centuries, including a career-best 190 and 17 ODI centuries, with a high score of 132 not out.
