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ODI verdict list

Best ODI Batters of the 2000s

MS Dhoni rises above Sachin Tendulkar by a breath. Sachin Tendulkar keeps the better volume in ODI batting, 8,823 runs to 4,959 runs. MS Dhoni's strike rate in ODI batting settles it, 88.71 to 85.05.

#1
Verdict96.2
Average
50.09
Strike rate
88.71
Away average
49.88
Average vs strong opposition
53.57
Consistency
29.32
Average in wins
79.30
Volume
4,959 runs
Verdict94.9
Average
46.68
Strike rate
85.05
Away average
43.37
Average vs strong opposition
44.89
Consistency
33.82
Average in wins
53.19
Volume
8,823 runs
#3
Verdict94.2
Average
54.07
Strike rate
87.15
Away average
59.75
Average vs strong opposition
50.03
Consistency
28.43
Average in wins
56.72
Volume
3,623 runs
Verdict94.2
Average
46.49
Strike rate
87.37
Away average
52.24
Average vs strong opposition
52.49
Consistency
32.53
Average in wins
62.76
Volume
3,161 runs
#5

Australia

Verdict94.1
Average
43.84
Strike rate
84.17
Away average
47.54
Average vs strong opposition
42.28
Consistency
34.06
Average in wins
51.75
Volume
8,988 runs
#6

West Indies

Verdict91.4
Average
41.57
Strike rate
83.56
Away average
47.67
Average vs strong opposition
36.91
Consistency
30.00
Average in wins
52.93
Volume
7,316 runs
#7
Verdict91.2
Average
39.76
Strike rate
92.79
Away average
45.15
Average vs strong opposition
38.52
Consistency
22.58
Average in wins
48.28
Volume
4,930 runs
#8
Verdict91.2
Average
45.66
Strike rate
80.85
Away average
45.54
Average vs strong opposition
42.68
Consistency
30.99
Average in wins
47.08
Volume
5,845 runs
#9

South Africa

Verdict90.5
Average
48.33
Strike rate
73.65
Away average
45.61
Average vs strong opposition
49.83
Consistency
34.33
Average in wins
57.19
Volume
7,830 runs
#10

South Africa

Verdict90.2
Average
40.30
Strike rate
86.53
Away average
49.58
Average vs strong opposition
42.19
Consistency
27.38
Average in wins
49.93
Volume
2,942 runs
Where the verdict was won
MS Dhoni
96.2 — led by Volume (23.7 of it), then Average (19.9)
Sachin Tendulkar
94.9 — led by Volume (24.9 of it), then Average (19.6)
Michael Hussey
94.2 — led by Volume (22.6 of it), then Average (20.0)
Kevin Pietersen
94.2 — led by Volume (22.3 of it), then Average (19.6)
Ricky Ponting
94.1 — led by Volume (25.0 of it), then Average (19.2)
Chris Gayle
91.4 — led by Volume (24.6 of it), then Average (18.7)
Andrew Symonds
91.2 — led by Volume (23.5 of it), then Average (18.1)
Matthew Hayden
91.2 — led by Volume (24.0 of it), then Average (19.5)
Jacques Kallis
90.5 — led by Volume (24.7 of it), then Average (19.8)
AB de Villiers
90.2 — led by Volume (22.0 of it), then Average (18.3)
Each bar is that player’s score out of 100, split into what produced it: segment length is the facet’s peer score times its weight. Darkest segment first. The segments add up to the score, so the bars are read against each other, not against a grid.

Transparent by design

How this ranking was calculated

The list is computed from scorecards, not selected by an AI model. Every player is measured against the same qualified peer population, and the rules below determine the order.

From scorecards to a verdict score
  1. Build the eligible peer population using the selected format, time window and qualification bars.
  2. Calculate every batting or bowling factor directly from the matching scorecards.
  3. Convert each factor to a score against qualified peers, respecting whether higher or lower is better.
  4. Apply the published weights. If a factor is unavailable, its weight is redistributed across that player's recorded factors.
  5. Add the weighted factors to produce the verdict score out of 100, then rank from highest to lowest.
Batting factors and weights

Compared with 393 batters who played at least 10 innings.

Important scoring choices

Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.

Fixed-era weighting: longevity is not scored because a player should not be penalised when only part of their career overlaps the era. Its allocation moves to runs or wickets.

ODI eligibility: this curated list includes players representing current ICC full-member teams. All of their recorded opposition still counts.

Editorial scope: this is a transparent judgement model, not an official record table. It does not insert or promote named players, and it applies no blanket era multiplier.

Data and query audit
ODIBest ODI Batters of the 2000sTop 10