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STUMP VISION JULY 24, 2026 | The Indian Eye 46

SHUBMAN GILL

The Prince is now writing his own

royal chapter in ODI cricket

finishing innings under pressure and
staying unbeaten countless times,
Dhoni redefined what finishing an
ODI chase should look like.
The list also reminds us that
greatness knows no nationality. Dar-
yl Mitchell of New Zealand occu-
pies second place with an average
of 58.98 from 61 matches, showing
remarkable consistency in a relative-
ly short career. Australia’s Michael
Bevan, averaging 53.58, remains the
ARCHAN MEHTA
original master finisher whose calm-
ness transformed ODI cricket in the
s India plays an ODI series late 1990s. South Africa’s AB de
against England, one statistic
Aperfectly captures the coun- Villiers combined innovation with
try’s dominance in the 50-over format. consistency, averaging 53.50 while
scoring 9,577 runs and 25 centuries.
Among players with a minimum of 50 Pakistan’s Babar Azam continues
ODI matches, four Indians feature in to be one of the finest modern-day
the all-time top 10 batting averages. ODI batters, averaging 53.43 with 20
Shubman Gill leads the list with an hundreds, while England’s Jonathan
incredible average of 59.09 from 64 Trott built a reputation as one of the
matches, scoring 3,191 runs and 9 most dependable anchors of his gen-
centuries. Right behind him is Virat eration with an average of 51.25. West
Kohli with an astonishing 58.71 av- Indies captain Shai Hope, averag-
erage across 311 matches, accu- ing 50.91 with 6,263 runs and 19 centu-
mulating 14,797 runs and 54 hun- ries, completes this elite group through
dreds. KL Rahul sits ninth with an sheer consistency in an otherwise chal-
average of 50.73 from 96 match- lenging period for Caribbean cricket.
es and 3,399 runs, while MS Dhoni As England prepare to take on
rounds off the elite list with an av- India, these numbers tell a story that
erage of 50.57 over 350 ODIs, scor- goes beyond individual brilliance.
ing 10,773 runs. No other nation has India has not simply produced great
four batters in this exclusive club. ODI batters; it has built a culture
That is not just a statistical achieve- where consistency is expected and
ment—it is proof that India has mas- Every young prodigy follows a different path. Some fade away under expectation while others excellence becomes routine. From
tered the art of ODI batting over Dhoni’s finishing skills to Kohli’s re-
multiple generations. build legendary careers (File photo) lentless hunger, Rahul’s adaptability
At the top of the list stands In-
dia’s new leader, Shubman Gill. Al- the undisputed king of ODI batting. this era. While Gill has made a sensa- and Gill’s elegance, every genera-
tion has passed the baton seamlessly
ready captain in both Tests and ODIs, Today, the prince is knocking on the tional start, Kohli has maintained elite to the next. That continuity is one of
Gill has made the 50-over format look palace door. Gill still has many years standards across different countries, the biggest reasons India remains a
effortless. His technique is compact, ahead before he can match Kohli’s different bowling attacks and chang- powerhouse in the 50-over game and
his shot selection is mature, and he longevity, but if there is one format ing eras of the game. Beside him are continues to enter every major ODI
rarely looks under pressure. In just 64 that truly belongs to him, it is One- two more Indian greats who have tournament among the favorites.
matches, he has crossed the 3,000- Day cricket. quietly built extraordinary ODI ca- England may have plans for stop-
run mark with nine centuries, averag- Then comes Virat Kohli, whose reers. KL Rahul, averaging 50.73, has ping India’s batting, but looking at
ing 59.09, the highest in ODI history numbers deserve a chapter of their been India’s crisis manager, adapting these averages, they might first need
among players who have played at own. An average of 58.71 after 311 to different batting positions while to figure out how to stop the calculator
least 50 matches. What makes this ODIs is almost impossible to compre- also taking over wicketkeeping duties from giving India all the top scores!
even more fascinating is that Gill is hend in modern cricket. Nearly 15,000 whenever required. Meanwhile, MS
only 0.38average points ahead of Vi- runs, 54 centuries, countless success- Dhoni’s average of 50.57 after 350
rat Kohli. The numbers have created ful run chases and more than a de- matches remains one of the greatest Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
one of the most exciting storylines in cade of consistency have made Kohli achievements for a middle-order bat- telling compelling stories about athletes,
Indian cricket. For years, Kohli was arguably the greatest ODI batter of ter. Batting lower down the order, teams, and the world of cricket

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