​GOAT in ODI cricket: Ranking the 10 greatest One Day International cricketers ever originally appeared on Cricket News.
Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The One Day International 50-over format has seen some of the most breathtaking players over its rich history. Many of these cricketers have gone on to redefine the art of dominating the 50-over format and have etched their names in cricketing legacy.Let’s take a look at some of the greatest players in ODI history, and give you the chance to make your own ranking!1. Virat KohliIf you were to ask cricket supporters who they think is the perfect ODI batsman, most would answer with Virat “King” Kohli. The former India captain is arguably the greatest batsman to have played in the 50-over format, combining consistency and aggression in perfect harmony. With 14650 runs across 297 innings, which include 53 centuries (the most in the format) and 77 half-centuries. He has also maintained an exceptional average of 58.60 with a strike rate of 93.70; his numbers may not be matched for decades to come. (getty) 2. Sachin TendulkarBefore Kohli, there was the “Little Master” Sachin Tendulkar. The most consistent batsman to have played the game, he still holds the record for most runs in ODI cricket (18,426), a record that may not be broken anytime soon. Over a whopping 452 innings, Tendulkar showed great adaptability as he went from dealing with the slow-paced nature of cricket in the 1990s to the aggressive fast-paced action beginning at the turn of the millennium, standing out across both eras.MORE: BCCI unhappy with Gautam Gambhir trolling after Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma heroics; India dressing room in disarray: Report3. Vivian RichardsAt a time when aggressive batting wasn’t looked upon in the manner it is today, Vivian Richards mastered it and made a name for himself with the West Indies. He was every top batsman’s favourite batsman, in an era where a strike rate of 66 was considered the norm; Richards maintained his at 90.20. His rich career included 11 centuries and 21 fifties across 187 matches, which included the all-famous knock of 189* against England in 1984.4. Muthiah MuralidaranIt would be an injustice to leave out Sri Lankan spin legend Muthiah Muralidaran from the GOAT list. With 534 wickets at an economy of under four, Murali was a nightmare for batters even on flat tracks.Murali’s doosra, dip and bounce made him nearly unplayable in the middle overs, allowing Sri Lanka to control matches and build pressure like few teams could.  His distinctive, whippy bowling action was also a unique one in cricket, which only added to the deception and difficulty batters faced, making him a puzzle few ever solved.5. Ricky PontingTo many, Australian cricket’s golden era wouldn’t have existed if Ricky Ponting hadn’t been at the helm and leading from the front. One of the five batsmen to score 13,000 runs in the 50-over format, Ponting’s incredible batting