Top 5 Indian ODI batsmen in 2017

The Indian cricket team had a fantastic year, not only in Tests but also in the limited overs format. Although the team played most of their matches in the subcontinent, their performance throughout the year was par excellence.

With a win percentage of approximately 73%, the Indian team is the most successful ODI team of the year.

In the journey of becoming the most successful ODI team of the year, Indian batsmen have played a significant role. From scoring runs for the team to keeping their nerves intact in tight and tense situations, Indian batsmen have not failed to impress.

Let us have a look at the top five batsmen from the Indian team:

5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

The most experienced batsman in the batting line-up, Dhoni had a great year with the bat. Before the ODI series against England in December 2016, Dhoni resigned from the post of captaincy, and from then had played for the team only as a wicket-keeper batsman. In 2017, he scored 788 runs in 29 matches at an average of 60.61.

In the second ODI against England played at Cuttack, Dhoni batted with an aggressive approach and scored 134 runs off 122 balls including 10 fours and 6 sixes. In the first ODI against Sri Lanka played at Dharamsala, he came to the crease when the team was struggling at 16 for 4, taking the side to a respectable total of 112 by scoring a sensible 65 runs. These two instances reflect Dhoni’s phenomenal ability to bat according to the situation.

The senior pro contributed a lot to the team with his batting and wicket-keeping for the last thirteen years and is expected to continue the same in the overseas tours next year, where his experience will play a significant role in winning matches.

4. Ajinkya Rahane

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The Mumbai southpaw had a fantastic year with the bat in ODIs. He played as the third opener in the team, and got chances in the playing eleven only in the absence of either Shikhar Dhawan or Rohit Sharma, the regular openers in ODIs for India. But he used those limited opportunities to the fullest.

In 2017, Rahane played 12 matches, in which he scored 586 runs at an average of 48.83. He was the highest run scorer in the ODI series against West Indies, where he scored 336 runs in 5 matches, and also received the Man of the Series award for his brilliant batting performance.

Although Rahane has faced difficulty in getting a place in the playing eleven in the recent ODIs, his promising performance this year has showed that he is an important asset to the team. His records outside the sub-continent are proof of his ability to adapt to overseas conditions and perform accordingly, which will play a key role in India's 2018-19 overseas season.

3. Shikhar Dhawan

The 32-year old opening batsman again had proved his worth in the Indian ODI team. He suffered from certain injuries in first half of the year, but did not let these adversities affect his performance

In 22 ODI matches which Dhawan played in 2017, he scored 960 runs at an average of 48, including 3 triple figure scores. In the ICC Champions trophy held in England this year, he won the Man of the Tournament award for scoring the maximum number of runs, as he scored 338 runs in 5 matches at an average of 67.60.

With his aggressive batting, Dhawan got runs in all three formats of the game, especially in 50-over matches, and will definitely play to the best of his abilities in the upcoming overseas season as well.

2. Rohit Sharma

The “Hitman” was at his very best in ODI matches in 2017. With some brilliant batting this year, he always gave good start to the innings, and had some match winning partnerships with his opening partners as well as the batsmen batting down the order.

Sharma scored a total of 1293 runs at an average of 71.83 in 21 matches, and is the second highest run scorer in ODIs this year.

His best ODI innings in 2017 came in December in a match against Sri Lanka, where he scored a magnificent 208 runs, and became the only batsman in the history of world cricket to have scored three double hundreds in ODI career. That innings of 208 included 13 fours and 12 sixes.

The vice-captain of the Indian limited overs team proved his ability to provide good starts in the beginning of the innings, and we expect him to continue his great form in the upcoming 2018-19 overseas season of Indian cricket.

1. Virat Kohli

The “Century Machine” of the Indian team had an amazing year, breaking a number of records in all the formats of the game. The Indian skipper was part of almost all ODI matches played by India this year, barring the ODIs against Sri Lanka in December, where Rohit Sharma led the team in his absence.

This shows the level of Kohli’s physical and mental fitness, which have helped a lot in bringing improvements to his batting.

Kohli scored 1460 runs in 26 matches at an average of 76.84, and is the leading run scorer in ODIs in 2017. This year, he scored 6 hundreds, and went past the great Ricky Ponting’s 31 ODI hundreds. He now stands second in the list of number of ODI hundreds scored, one position behind the legend Sachin Tendulkar, with 32 hundreds in his account.

Kohli has been the pillar of the Indian batting line-up in ODI cricket, and his form will play a very crucial role in winning matches in the overseas conditions, as for the next 18 months, the team will tour South Africa, England and Australia.