ODI verdict list
Best ODI Batters of the 21st Century
AB de Villiers rises above Virat Kohli by a breath. Virat Kohli keeps the better volume in ODI batting, 14,941 runs to 9,421 runs. AB de Villiers's strike rate in ODI batting settles it, 101.42 to 93.95.
South Africa
- Average
- 54.46
- Strike rate
- 101.42
- Away average
- 61.75
- Average vs strong opposition
- 59.79
- Consistency
- 36.32
- Average in wins
- 66.44
- Volume
- 9,421 runs
India
- Average
- 58.59
- Strike rate
- 93.95
- Away average
- 53.96
- Average vs strong opposition
- 57.28
- Consistency
- 44.04
- Average in wins
- 75.32
- Volume
- 14,941 runs
India
- Average
- 48.97
- Strike rate
- 92.83
- Away average
- 41.63
- Average vs strong opposition
- 45.02
- Consistency
- 34.30
- Average in wins
- 58.58
- Volume
- 11,752 runs
South Africa
- Average
- 46.86
- Strike rate
- 96.74
- Away average
- 43.78
- Average vs strong opposition
- 44.99
- Consistency
- 34.38
- Average in wins
- 54.35
- Volume
- 7,122 runs
Australia
- Average
- 45.31
- Strike rate
- 97.26
- Away average
- 39.18
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.55
- Consistency
- 34.59
- Average in wins
- 53.91
- Volume
- 6,932 runs
England
- Average
- 50.70
- Strike rate
- 87.61
- Away average
- 52.56
- Average vs strong opposition
- 44.09
- Consistency
- 37.22
- Average in wins
- 69.18
- Volume
- 7,706 runs
India
- Average
- 56.09
- Strike rate
- 99.05
- Away average
- 48.50
- Average vs strong opposition
- 41.19
- Consistency
- 42.19
- Average in wins
- 68.97
- Volume
- 3,141 runs
New Zealand
- Average
- 57.37
- Strike rate
- 94.49
- Away average
- 59.79
- Average vs strong opposition
- 54.43
- Consistency
- 38.60
- Average in wins
- 70.50
- Volume
- 2,811 runs
India
- Average
- 50.23
- Strike rate
- 87.13
- Away average
- 50.79
- Average vs strong opposition
- 47.20
- Consistency
- 27.89
- Average in wins
- 68.61
- Volume
- 10,599 runs
Pakistan
- Average
- 53.44
- Strike rate
- 86.59
- Away average
- 49.56
- Average vs strong opposition
- 48.52
- Consistency
- 41.43
- Average in wins
- 73.19
- Volume
- 6,626 runs
- AB de Villiers
- 97.8 — led by Volume (24.7 of it), then Average (19.9)
- Virat Kohli
- 97.0 — led by Volume (25.0 of it), then Average (20.0)
- Rohit Sharma
- 94.6 — led by Volume (24.9 of it), then Average (19.6)
- Quinton de Kock
- 94.4 — led by Volume (24.1 of it), then Average (19.4)
- David Warner
- 93.8 — led by Volume (24.0 of it), then Average (19.1)
- Joe Root
- 93.5 — led by Volume (24.4 of it), then Average (19.8)
- Shubman Gill
- 93.3 — led by Volume (21.8 of it), then Average (19.9)
- Daryl Mitchell
- 93.3 — led by Volume (21.3 of it), then Average (20.0)
- MS Dhoni
- 93.2 — led by Volume (24.9 of it), then Average (19.7)
- Babar Azam
- 93.0 — led by Volume (23.9 of it), then Average (19.8)
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.
- Build the eligible peer population using the selected format, time window and qualification bars.
- Calculate every batting or bowling factor directly from the matching scorecards.
- Convert each factor to a score against qualified peers, respecting whether higher or lower is better.
- Apply the published weights. If a factor is unavailable, its weight is redistributed across that player's recorded factors.
- Add the weighted factors to produce the verdict score out of 100, then rank from highest to lowest.
Compared with 829 batters who played at least 10 innings.
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.