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Ranking India’s Top 10 ODI match-winners of all-time
Representing the Indian cricket team at the highest level, fulfilling the expectation of billions of cricket lovers, especially in the limited over a game such as in One Day International (ODI) and in Twenty20 format where the competition becomes breathtaking is not an easy task. Additionally, the mental pressure goes mounting as the cricketers who are on the field are never taken for granted as several cricketers are waiting for the call to replace the selected ones if anyone among them loses his form even in one or two consecutive matches.
Amidst the growing mental pressure every time, there are a few in the history of Indian cricket who has consistently shined either with the bat or ball, steering India to the victory. They are not only called greats but also the real match-winners.
So, we will try to find out to make Ranking India’s Top 10 ODI match-winners of all-time here in this article.
MS Dhoni
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni was called 'Captain Cool' by the fans and the experts for his immaculate temperament and nonchalant expression on the field even after a serious decision, made against India. But considering the ODI history of the Indian team, Dhoni can easily be called one of the India's Top 10 Match winners. He has a mammoth 10,773 runs from 350 ODIs at an average of 50.58 in his kitty. Being Indian he also has the only record of attaining three crucial titles, T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy. But talking about his contribution as a captain, statistics reveal that MS Dhoni has registered the second-most triumphs in limited over International matches. That is 151 matches, only behind former Australian captain Ricky Ponting who has won in 172 matches. In the wins in the highest level of limited over game Dhoni also has earned a place along with Ricky Ponting and Clive Lloyd with 14 wins and only 7 losses!
Along with his spiteful statistics, Dhoni was also a master of maneuvering the team as it was his initiative to upgrade Rohit Sharma as an opener in the limited over game and everybody has been watching how much success Rohit is getting in his new position.
Also Read - Highlights of M.S. Dhoni
Yuvraj Singh
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Yuvraj Singh, one of the most talented and strong-minded cricketers India has seen in recent times. In the limited over game Yuvraj Singh can easily be termed as one of the Top 10 Indian Cricketers. In terms of numbers, Yuvraj Singh had gathered 8701 runs from his 304 ODIs and simultaneously capturing 111 wickets. Yuvraj before being plagued by the severe disease was coroneted with man-of-the-tournament in the ODI World Cup in 2011 that India clinched. Even after coming out of his toughest phase Yuvraj entered the pitch and played with the same energy. In his day Yuvraj Singh was the man who controlled the game even against the world's best bowling-attack and became the match-winner.
Sachin Tendulkar
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Sachin Tendulkar is not only in the list of Ranking India’s Top 10 ODI match-winners of all-time, but he is also regarded as one of the 10 Best Cricketers of the world all-time. Indian cricket had enjoyed his service for over two decades.
Sachin had participated in 463 ODIs and scored 18,426 runs including 49 centuries with an average of 44.83 and also captured 154 wickets in as many matches. But the statistics only does not reflect his immense match-winning performances. One interesting statistics that can be mentioned in this regard that out of the 49 centuries he struck in ODI, India had won 33 matches, drawn in one match and the country has lost in only 14 matches.
On five occasions in the ODI Sachin had turned match-winner single-handedly. One of The Top 10 Cricketers scored a magnificent 88 against Australia at Bangalore in the Titan Cup in 1996 that helped India to win the match. In Wills Cup in Dhaka in 1998, it was a critical situation for India after two wickets fell quickly for only 8 runs. But Tendulkar exhibiting his class, dished out a 141 off 128 balls to guide India to settle with a formidable 307 for the visitor. The World Cup in 2003 saw Tendulkar's magnificent 98 at Centurion, demolishing Pakistan bowling, and his superb 91 against Australia in 2008 and another immaculate 103 against England in 2008 Chennai has been memorable to the cricket lovers.
Also Read - List of 10 Great cricketers of all time
Virat Kohli
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The Indian captain also can be included in the list of Ranking India’s Top 10 ODI match-winners of all-time. Virat Kohli, for his consistent batting in all three formats, especially in the ODIs has placed among the Best 10 Cricketers in the world of cricket at present time. In his last 12 years of journey in One Day International (ODI) Kohli has amassed 12040 runs in 251 matches including 43 hundreds with an average of 59.31. Besides, he has been extremely instrumental in leading his teammates through motivation and the hunger to win in every match. Kohli will be remembered as one of the most decorated Indian batsmen in India’s cricket history.
Also Read - Unknown Facts About Indian Cricketers
Rohit Sharma
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His three double centuries in One Day International (ODI) cricket so far has placed Rohit Sharma among the match-winners in ODI format undoubtedly. Rohit Sharma’s rejuvenation only came out in 2013 after he began as an opening batsman. Now this Mumbai-based batsman who has gathered 9115 runs from 224 ODIs including 23 hundreds with an average of 49.27 where his best was 264 is being called the torch-bearer of the Indian cricket team in the ODIs.
Also Read - Who Has The Best Bowling Average in ODIs?
Virender Sehwag
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One of the most aggressive and instinctive batsmen in the world as well as in Indian cricket is Virender Sehwag who was called ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’. His unbelievable hand-eye coordination and late-playing ability single-handedly changed the complexion of several ODIs even against the world's best bowling line-up. He was the second Indian batsman to have struck a double and he had posed such an authority over the bowlers that always helped India to launch a striking start in its innings. Sehwag has scored 8273 runs from 251 ODIs including 15 hundreds with an average of 35.05 and an amazing strike rate of 104.33. Sehwag has interesting statistics that in the 2011 ODI World Cup he started every match with a boundary and created more than 150 run's partnership in the tournament's very first match. Once he was on song no one could stop him exhibiting devastating form.
Zaheer Khan
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Zaheer Khan, the left-arm fast bowler and one of the heroes in India’s ODI World Cup triumph had helped India win several ODIs single-handedly. The 42-year old fast bowler from Mumbai has scalped 282 wickets from 200 ODIs. Zaheer could have continued and achieved more wickets with his deadly block-whole deliveries as well as the swing but injuries forced him to say goodbye finally.
Sourav Ganguly
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The designer of approach and style to play in modern-day cricket, especially in One Day International matches, Sourav Ganguly can also be placed among the Top 10 Indian Cricketer for his aggressive style of batting and also effective seam bowling at the highest level of cricket. Sourav's leadership quality as well as leading from the front guided the Indian team to offer challenging duels to the top teams of the world. Sourav played 311 ODIs and scored 11, 363 runs while scalping 100 wickets to place himself as a true all-rounder.
Kapil Dev
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The pioneer of Indian cricket to have shown the way of how to play ODI, Kapil Dev's name has been inscribed with India's rejuvenation in ODI through the triumph in the 1983 World Cup, the first World Cup victory for India. After B.S. Chandrashekhar this Haryana based fast bowler can be called one of the Best 10 Cricketers of world cricket who single-handedly guided India to several victories. Not only as a bowler, but Kapil's stormy innings with the bat also played an instrumental role in helping India win matches. Kapil Dev, one of the first true all-rounders set had become an idol to his next generation cricketers who also had come up after watching the great all-rounder. Kapil played 223 ODIs for India, scored 3783 runs, and captured 253 wickets.
Also Read - Cricket World Cup Winners Since 1975
Rahul Dravid
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Rahul Dravid is mainly regarded as one of the all-time greats in Test cricket but in the ODI also he has amassed 10889 runs from 344 matches including 12 hundreds and 83 fifties! Rahul was the spine of the Indian batting line-up even in ODI for several years through his solid technique and temperament that helped his devastating teammates like Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj, and Sourav to relax on the crease. Even in ODI Dravid has been an unsung hero.
