5 Indian batsmen with highest strike rate in ODIs

Strike-rate is probably the most important metric in limited-overs cricket. If a batsman ends up scoring a hundred at a strike rate of 75 in modern-day cricket, it will invariably be counterproductive.

Nowadays, teams easily chase a score of around 300 and anything less than 350 is not a safe score in the first innings. Batsmen go slam-bang from the word go and patience is not a virtue anymore in limited overs cricket. Apart from batting average, strike -rate in another metric which has assumed equal importance.

There have been many instances where in spite of having high average players have been dropped from the playing eleven on the basis of their slow batting. In Indian context Ambati Rayudu is a perfect example of this kind of selection parameter, in spite of having an outstanding average of 49.20 in ODI's he is not a certainty in the squad due to his slow strike rate of 76.82.

There are many Indian batsmen who have an outstanding strike-rate in ODIs. Let's take a look at 5 Indians with the highest strike in ODI's:

#5 Kapil Dev (95.07)

Easily the best all-rounder India has produced till date, Kapil Dev was devastating at times. He had the ability to turn it on when his team needed him the most. His knock of 175* against Zimbabwe is well documented where he single-handedly took India over the line to keep them in the hunt for their quest of the first World Cup title.

Kapil played 225 one day internationals and he maintained an outstanding strike rate of 95.07 during his career, which is an amazing feat especially considering the fact that he played during those days when a score of 250 used to be a winning score in ODIs.

#4 Virender Sehwag (104.33)

Sehwag played his game in an uncomplicated manner

A batsman who changed the way people used to look at the Test openers, Sehwag used to score at more than a fair clip without even resorting to any kind of slogging. He tormented best of bowlers during his career and he was easily one of the most feared batsmen of his time.

Sehwag played 251 one day internationals and he maintained an exceptional strike rate of 104.33 during his career. Maintaining a strike rate of over 100 during a career which lasted for more than 250 games is no mean feat and the nonchalant manner in which Sehwag played his game was icing on the cake.

#3 Kedar Jadhav (106.89)

Jadhav has been a great find for India

Jadhav is a player who blossomed a bit late by modern-day standards but he has already made his mark in One-Day international cricket. He has turned out to be a great finisher for the Indian One Day side during the last couple of years.

He is an unsung hero of Indian ODI side who does his job without much fuss. His impact can be measured from the fact that in spite of coming in to bat in the situations where he is expected to hit the ball from the word go he has maintained an average of 41.33 during 46 matches he has played so far. He has a strike rate of 106.89 in ODI's which is outstanding by any standards.

#2 Yusuf Pathan (113.60)

Yousuf Pathan is a seriously good hitter of a cricket ball

A player who is out of the Indian scheme of things nowadays, Pathan is a serious hitter of a cricket ball. His exploits in the IPL are well documented but his limited-overs career for India never really took off.

During his brief ODI career for India so far, he has played 57 One Day Internationals during which he scored 810 runs at a brisk strike rate of 113.60.

#1 Hardik Pandya (114.52)

Pandya can hit the ball a long way

Hardik Pandya has been a great find for India in limited overs cricket. He seems to be the answer to India's quest to find a seam-bowling all-rounder. He is equally good with both bat and ball in limited overs cricket.

Although its still early days in his ODI career he seems to be in for a long haul as far as One-day Cricket is concerned. Pandya has scored his runs at an outstanding strike rate of 114.52 during his ODI stint so far.