Top 10 Men ODI Batsmen In The World According To The International Cricket Council

At the moment there are 12 full-time members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) which include, Indian, Pakistan, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Ireland, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Out of these many teams, it gets difficult to pick the Top 10 ODI Batsmen in the world 2023.

However, the ICC, every year, based on the recent performance of the players, pick the 10 best players in different categories. But today we will take a look at the 10 Best Men ODI Batsman in the world as of 2023.

These rankings do change over time depending upon the matches a player play and how he performs in the One Day International (ODI) match.

The player is rated out of 1000 points and is scored majorly on the basis of the runs he scores in the match.

Who is the best batsman in the world right now?

1. Babar Azam

Babar Azam is a Pakistani cricketer who has been turning heads. He is a top-order batsman who also serves as the Captain of the Pakistani cricket team in T20 and Vice-Captain in ODI format. Making his ODI debut at a nascent age of 20 in 2015, he was the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2019 which took place in England.

In 2017, he was awarded the PCB’s ODI Player of the year when he became the first player in history to have scored 5 consecutive centuries in the same country. At just 25 years old, he is said to be a prodigy. He ranks 3^rd on the list of the top 10 ODI batsmen in the World.

In his debut ODI match, he scored 54 runs off just 60 deliveries. He is also the only Pakistani player to have scored 3 centuries in T20 matches in a calendar year.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: The Emperor and Bobzy
• Height: 5 feet 11 inches
• Batting: Right-handed batsman
• Spouse: Unmarried
• ODI Debut: 31^st May 20015 against Zimbabwe
• ODI Batting Stats: 80 matches, 78 innings with an Average of 56.8 and a Strike Rate of 88.7

Also Read: 10 ODI Bowlers in the world According To ICC

2. Rassie Van Der Dussen

This South African top-order batsman played cricket in South Africa, England, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada and the Caribbean ahead of getting acknowledged by national selectors in and making his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in October 2018. The 33-year-old attacking batsman, who plays for the Highveld Lions cricket team in domestic cricket, was one of the five to be crowned as Cricketer of the Year in the 2018 South African Cricket Annual.

Dussen was also hailed as the International Men’s Newcomer of the Year at Cricket South Africa’s annual award ceremony in August 2019. He was included in the South Africa One Day International (ODI) team in January 2019 for their series against Pakistan.  On January 19, 2019, he played his debut ODI for South Africa against Pakistan. Van der Dussen got dismissed for 93 and missed his first ODI century by a whisker. 

Three days later, at Kingsmead Stadium, he recorded an unbeaten 80. Over the course of the five ODIs, he scored 241 runs overall, for an average of 120.5. He was named in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2021 in the annual ICC Awards in January 2022. He is unequivocally one of the best ODI batsmen in the world.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Steady the Ship
• Height: 6 feet 2 inches
• Batting: Right-handed batsman
• Spouse: Lara van der Dussen
• ODI Debut: 19^th January 2019 against Pakistan
• ODI Batting Stats: 38 matches, 32 innings with an average of 69.31 and a strike rate of 89.91

3. Imam-ul-Haq

Southpaw, Imam-ul-Haq has surpassed his captain Babar Azam and former Indian skipper Virat Kohli to secure the second spot in the list of top 10 ODI batsmen in the world in 2023. This left-hand middle-order batsman from Pakistan is renowned for his flamboyant stroke play and ability to perform exceedingly well, even under pressure. With his outstanding international career, he thwarted all criticisms centring around nepotism since his uncle Inzamam-ul-Haq was the chief selector.

Imam-ul-Haq arrived on the scene during the U-19 Asia Cup in 2012 under immense hardship. The first of many difficulties he faced in his first series was the pressure of playing Inzamam-ul-nephew. Imam, however, put all of that to rest and averaged 45 points from 5 games, including three consecutive fifty-point performances and an 88 in his debut match against India U-19. Observe this! He accomplished all of that at the young age of 16, showing flashes of extraordinary talent and ability.

He played his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on 18^th October 2017 and succeeded in scoring a century, becoming the second player from Pakistan to score three figures in his maiden match. Following this, he put his best foot forward in Zimbabwe when he struck three centuries and became the first player in ODI history to score four hundred in his first nine games. He can unequivocally be regarded as one of the top 10 batsmen in the world. In Abu Dhabi, he made his third ODI debut and led a successful run-chase, scoring his first international century while at it. Imam is a nimble ring fielder and a lively presence on the field.

Also Read: Interesting Cricket Facts

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Inzi
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches
• Batting: Left-handed batsman
• Spouse: Unmarried
• ODI Debut: 18^th October 2017 against Sri Lanka
• ODI Batting Stats: 54 matches, 54 innings, with an average of 52.66 and a strike rate of 82.83

4. Harry Tector

Harry Tector, from Ireland, ranks fourth on the list of the best ODI Batsmen in the World. Tector, with his calm demeanour, made his third ODI debut in 2020 with an unbeaten 29 off 26 balls. His controlled performance was important in Ireland’s astonishing victory, as they chased down a target of 329 with one ball to spare. While Paul Stirling’s and Andy Balbirnie’s century dominated the headlines that day, Tector’s constant presence hinted at a potential answer to Ireland’s middle-order problems that had plagued them since late 2010.

In July 2021, he scored 79 runs off 68 balls to assist Ireland secure their first-ever ODI victory over South Africa. This victory demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure and hinted at a bright future. Harry Tector’s rise in the World of cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. His future in Irish cricket looks extremely bright as he continues to grow and improve as a cricketer.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Tec
• Height: 6 feet 3 inches. 
• Batting: Right-handed batsman 
• Spouse: Unmarried
• ODI Debut: Jul 1, 201 against Zimbabwe
• ODI Batting Stats: 40 matches, 37 innings with an average of 50.06 and a Strike Rate of 84.34

5. David Warner

An Australian cricketer who currently ranks 6^th on the list of the top 10 ODI Batsmen in the World. He has served as a captain for the Australian Cricket Team and still opens for them. His full name is David Andrew Warner and he was born on the 27^th October 1986 in Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

In 2009, Warner debut in ODI when he was just 20 years old against South Africa where he just scored 5 runs, however, since 1877 he is the first Australian cricketer to have not played a single First-Class match.

In the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, when playing against Afghanistan, he scored the highest in his career of 178 which helped Australia reach the highest tally in any World Cup ever at 417/6.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Lloyd, and The Reverend
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches
• Batting: Left-handed batsman
• Spouse: Candice Warner (2015)
• ODI Debut: 18^th January 2009, South Africa
• ODI Batting Stats: 128 matches, 126 innings with an Average of 45.4 and a Strike Rate of 95.5

Also Read: 10 Best Cricket Captains In The World Who Dominated The World Stage

6. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is the India skipper and is currently sitting at the number 1 position in the ICC ODI player ranking of 2023. Being a top-order batsman he scores lots of runs for the team and personally loves chasing a target than putting up a score to be chased by the other team.

Born on 5^th November 1988 in Delhi, he made it to the International format in 2008 when he was just 19 years old and now he is rated 869/ 1000 by the ICC.

He has the record of reaching 11,000 ODI runs faster than anybody else in the World, even faster than Sachin Tendulkar. He has been awarded the ICC ODI Player of the Year award 3 times – 2012, 2017, and 2018.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Chikoo/ Chiku
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches
• Batting: Right-handed batsman
• Spouse: Anushka Sharma (2017)
• ODI Debut: 18^th August 2008 against Sri Lanka
• ODI Batting Stats: 254 matches, 245 innings with an Average of 59.1 and a Strike Rate of 93.2

7. Quinton de Kock

Another South African on the list of best ODI Batsmen in the World where he ranks 10^th is Quinton de Kock. He is the wicket-keeper for the teams as well. He was born on 17^th December 1992 in Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, South Africa.

He made his ODI debut in 2013 when he was just 20 years old against New Zealand where he scored 18 runs. After returning to the ODI team in November of 2013, he scored a blasting century against Pakistan but he really outshined in December of 2013 when he scored 3 consecutive centuries against India.

Not just this, in 2016, he scored 178 runs in just 113 balls against Australia. He also holds the record to score the fastest 12 ODI centuries in just 74 ODIs, a feat that is yet to be broken.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Quinny
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches
• Batting: Left-handed batsman
• Spouse: Sasha Hurly (2016)
• ODI Debut: 19^th January 2013 against New Zealand
• ODI Batting Stats: 124 matches, 124 innings with an Average of 45.38 and a Strike Rate of 95.47

Also Read: 15 Batsmen With Most Sixes In IPL Tournament

8. Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen, a wicketkeeper-batter famed for his ferocious six-hitting, originally appeared for South Africa as an injury substitute. Klaasen attended Menlopark High School and the University of Pretoria before making his first-class debut for Northerns in 2012-13, averaging 42.58 in the provincial three-day cup. In February 2017, he scored his first franchise century with 195 runs in the first-round playoffs. In his second T20I against India in Centurion in 2018, Klaasen scored 69 off 30 balls. 

Klaasen made his Test debut in 2019 and signed his first national contract in 2021, shortly after captaining Pakistan’s second-string T20I team. His first international century, an undefeated 123 in a massive one-day triumph against Australia in Paarl two years later, also occurred at home. In 2023, he faced the same opponent with an incredible power-hitting show at Centurion, scoring 174 off 83 balls, the second-highest individual score by a batsman in ODIs. In the 2023 IPL, he struck 191 and averaged 132 against slow bowling, making him a valuable player for T20 organizations.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Klaasy
• Height: 5 feet 10 inches.
• Batting: Right-handed batsman
• Spouse: Unmarried
• ODI Debut: July 19, 2017, against India
• ODI Batting Stats: 42 matches, 38 innings with an average of 41.34 and a Strike Rate of 111.64

Also Read: Best Fantasy Cricket Apps in India

9. Steve Smith

The narrative of Steven Smith’s career redemption is a tale to remember.  There was a great deal of criticism of his early international cricket selections since he had initially gained notoriety as a prospective leg-spinner who could also bat a little. They were forced to swallow their pride, though, as the elusive New South Wales guy completed a stunning turnaround to rank among the finest batsmen in the world.

The right-hand opening batsman made his NSW debut in 1981–82, earning 245 runs at an average of 40.83; the following season was even better, and he recorded a career-high 263 against Victoria for his first-ever first-class hundred. His one-day debut against New Zealand in Melbourne’s third game was magnificent, as he scored 100 points. He stayed on the ODI team, went on a tour of Sri Lanka, and then, in the Caribbean in 1983–84, he made his Test debut. However, he struggled against the West Indies pace bowlers, scoring just 41 runs in three Tests. Smith is the best batting prospect in the nation, according to the former Australian icon Greg Chappell.

Also Read: Best Cricket Bats

Smith made his debut across formats during the domestic 2007–2008 season. He had a reputation for giving the ball a solid rip and was hailed a powerful leg spinner. He was compared to the legendary Shane Warne, who had just announced his retirement from international cricket a season or so earlier, owing to his boyish charm and the way he ran up to the crease. Smith had potential, but he wasn’t quite ready for the big stage. In a few years, the national call-up arrived, and in February 2010, the limited-overs debut was placed. His debut in the longest format came during the tour of England later that year.

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Smudge
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches
• Batting: Right-handed batsman
• Spouse: Dani Wills
• ODI Debut: 19^th February 2010 against West Indies
• ODI Batting Stats: 136 matches,121 innings with an average of 44.13 and a strike rate of 87.41

10. Fakhar Zaman

Pakistani cricketer Fakhar Zaman debuted for his country in 2017. He has established himself as a prominent member of Pakistan’s limited-overs squad and is an opening batsman renowned for his aggressive stroke play. Fakhar first gained notoriety at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, where he gave Pakistan a victory against India by scoring a game-winning century.

Fakhar is regarded as one of the most important players in Pakistan’s limited-overs system due to his explosive batting and match-winning skills. Since then, Fakhar has participated in 65 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan, scoring 2785 runs at an average of 45.66, with a best score of 210, and recording fifteen centuries and eight centuries. He also participated in 72 T20 International games, amassing 1369 runs with a strike rate of 129.03. Fakhar is now among Pakistan’s most dependable batters in limited-overs cricket because to his steady performances. Aside from international T20 competitions, Fakhar has also competed for the Lahore Qalandars and the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Fun Facts:

• Nickname: Fauji
• Height: 5 feet 10 inches
• Batting: left-handed batsman
• Spouse: unmarried
• ODI Debut: June 07 2017, against South Africa
• ODI Batting Stats: 65 matches,65 innings with an average of 45.66 and a strike rate of 92.52.D

With this we conclude the list of top 10 Men ODI batsmen in the world in 2023 as per ICC in ODIs. Do you think someone else has performed better and deserves to be on the list? Share their names with us in comments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question 1: Who is ODI No 1 batsman in the world?

Answer 1: As of now, the 26-year-old Babar Azam from Pakistan is the ODI #1 batsman in the world with an 865/1000 rating given by the International Cricket Council.

Question 2: Who is the best player in International Cricket Council?

Answer 2: England’s Joe Root with a rating of 887 occupies the top spot in the The International Cricket Council Player Rankings.

Question 3: Who is the best cricket player in the world right now?

Answer 3: England’s Joe Root with a career best rating of 923 v India, 05/07/2022 is hailed as the best cricketer in the present times.