Top 5 Indian ODI batsmen in 2017

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.