3 most destructive batters of all time in ODI cricket

The first ever ODI match was played on January 5, 1971, between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Australia won by five wickets. Since then, in the past 55 years of the format, several batters have made a name for themselves with their prolific batting display. 

While some players gained popularity for their remarkable consistency, others made a name for themselves through their spectacular scoring rate. These players gave a whole new dimension to the format with their belligerent batting, etching their names in the history books. Here are the three most destructive players in the history of ODI cricket:

3. AB de Villiers

The legendary South Africa batter is counted among the most consistent and explosive players the format has ever seen. De Villiers scored 9577 runs in his ODI career from 218 innings at an average of 53.50 and a strike rate of 101.09. He holds the record for the fastest half-century (16 balls), century (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in ODI history, a testament to his swashbuckling batting displays.

2. Virender Sehwag

The former India batter takes the second spot, having transformed his career after being promoted to open the innings. Virender Sehwag scored 8273 runs in ODIs at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 104.33 with 15 centuries and 38 fifties to his name. He became the second player to score a double hundred in Men’s ODI cricket, scoring 219 (149) vs West Indies in Indore, 2011.

1. Shahid Afridi

The former Pakistan captain took international cricket by storm, shattering the record for the fastest ODI century, reaching the milestone in 37 balls in his first outing as a batter against Sri Lanka. Afridi went on to become one of the most explosive players the format has ever seen, scoring 8064 runs in his ODI career from 369 innings at an average of 23.57 and a strike rate of 117 with six centuries and 39 fifties to his name.