Indian cricket has long been synonymous with batting excellence One Day International (Odi) Arena. From technical craftsmanship Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid fearless batting of modern stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat KohliHe developed an assembly line of spraying adults that defined generations in the country.
Jason Gillespie reveals the top 5 Indian Odi Batters
Old Australian Fast Bowler Jason Gillespie Recently, Fast Bowling Cartel shared a list of top five Indian ODI batsmen during a discussion on their YouTube channel. His selections stirred up a significant controversy as he left out one of the game’s most iconic names – tendulkar.
Gillespie began his list Shikhar Dhawan A number five that highlights the often overlooked consistency of his left side. He highlighted Dhawan’s impressive career numbers – an average of 44 and a strike rate of 91 – as proof of his reliability and impact. Australia, Dhawan’s ability to deliver in ICC tournaments and major bilateral series has made him arguably one of India’s most reliable top-order batsmen.
“Shikhar Dhawan would be No. 5 for me. I think he has slipped under the radar a bit. No. 91 is 44 with a strike rate. said Gilchrist.
In the fourth issue, Gillespie was placed Ms dhonidescribes it as the “ultimate finisher” in limited overgrowth plants. The former pacer praised Dhoni not only for his batting numbers but also for his game awareness and leadership. Dhoni’s composure under pressure and his knack for timing his jams perfectly are qualities that set him perfectly apart from most batsmen in the world, he said.
“Dhoni would be number four for me. Dhoni’s numbers are absolutely brilliant and you know what he understands,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie was his number three choice Virant SehwagAn explosive opening that redefined India’s approach in Odis. He admired Sehwag’s fearless batting style, which laid the foundations for India’s early overs, often disrupting the opposition’s rhythm before they could settle.
“Viranter Sehwag would be three for me. Strike rate close to 105, average in 30s is very good and number three comes in his list” explained the former Aussie pacer.
Read: Ab de Villiers names Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni in Odi Cricket’s top 10 batsmen
For the second spot, Gillespie went with Rohit, who he called ‘a complete modern Odi Batsman’. He was particularly impressed with Rohit’s ability to play the long shots and convert starters into mammoth scores. Gillespie highlighted the combination of Rohit’s strike rate of 93 and average strike rate, rare aggression and consistency.
At the top of the list, Gillespie, named Kohli, describes him as the most complete Odi fruit in the world. Gillespie starved Kohli’s impeccable chase records, unparalleled fitness levels and hunger for runs that made him one of the most dominant figures in modern cricket.
“The real surprise was probably Rohit Sharma at number two, Rohit Sharma’s 23 centuries and a middle order. Gillespie added.
Fans of Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal
Despite receiving several greats, Tendulkar’s OFTUSKAR – India’s highest run-getter and Power Scorer, one of Cricket’s all-time legends – has surprised chanters around the world. Tendulkar’s 49 runs of over 49 centuries and a career spanning over two decades have been considered untouchable. His exclusion from the top five led to controversy among cricket fans over the inconsistency of modern measurements and impacts of strike rates and conversion rates.
Gillespie clarifies his attitude towards Tendulkar
Anticipating the controversy, Gillespie made it clear that doubt about the magnitude of Tendulkar’s absence from the top five was not reflected. Instead, he explained, his criteria, pace of scoring and match shot pace, have more weight.
“I’ve got some very good players left and probably none bigger than Sachin. He’s six on my list. So it’s debatable,” he said.
With tendulkar ranked outside the top five, Gillespie acknowledged the great influence of the legend, but suggested that the newer generation of Indian batsmen has raised the standards of ODI batting even higher. Still, his comments reignited the timeless debate – can anyone top Sachin Tendulkar when it comes to defining his Indianness?
Read: Wasim Akram names the top 5 greatest batsmen in World Cricket
