Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath has revealed his list of the top 5 ODI batters of India, and his rankings have sparked plenty of debate among cricket fans. While the Australian great picked Virat Kohli as his No. 1 choice, he surprised everyone by placing Rohit Sharma above Sachin Tendulkar in his top five.
Glenn McGrath’s Top 5 ODI Batters Of India
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Sachin Tendulkar
MS Dhoni
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Yuvraj Singh
One name missing was that of Virender Sehwag, the burly opener who made a habit of blowing opposition away at the start.
Rohit Sharma ranked above Sachin Tendulkar
Explaining his decision, Glenn McGrath spoke of Rohit Sharma’s incredible feats in ODIs and termed his record “unbelievable”. The Australian legend underlined Rohit’s three double centuries and a record-breaking 264-run innings, which is the highest individual score in ODI history.
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“My No. 2 is Rohit Sharma. His stats in one-day cricket and the way he plays the game are just unbelievable. Over 11,000 runs in 276 matches that’s remarkable. He was a class player and probably deserved better Test numbers,” McGrath said.
McGrath first placed Virat Kohli in the list, appreciating his consistency, impressive average, and strike rate over formats.
“You look at the runs Kohli has scored, his average, and the strike rate – unbelievable. It’s hard to go past him,” he added.
Sachin Tendulkar: Still an Unmatched Legacy
Although McGrath ranked Sachin Tendulkar third, the Indian maestro remains a towering figure in world cricket. Tendulkar retired with 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, setting records that have stood for decades. Rohit Sharma has accumulated 11,370 runs from 276 matches yet his talent for scoring large runs places him among today’s cricketing legends.
Rohit Sharma Creates History in ICC ODI Rankings
Rohit Sharma reached the highest ICC ODI batting ranking at an older age than any other Indian cricketer which became a historic achievement that added to his legacy. At 38 years and 182 days, Rohit dethroned current India captain Shubman Gill for the first time in his career to reach the No. 1 position.
Rohit’s gain in points comes after his stellar show in the three-match ODI series against Australia, when he amassed 202 runs at an average of 101 for winning the Player of the Series award. On the other hand, Shubman Gill made only 43 runs in the series.
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McGrath’s Top 5 ODI Batters of India
Now, to wrap it up here, Glenn McGrath’s list of top 5 ODI batters of India-symmetrically included modern-day greats and the legends who molded Indian cricket’s golden era:
Virat Kohli
Sachin Tendulkar MS Dhoni Yuvraj Singh Glenn McGrath’s rankings have reignited discussions among cricket enthusiasts about the best Indian ODI batters of all time. While Virat Kohli continues to dominate world cricket, Rohit Sharma’s extraordinary records and Sachin Tendulkar’s enduring legacy ensure that India’s ODI batting lineup remains among the greatest in cricket history.
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