Position Wise Players With The Best Batting Average While Chasing In ODIs

Chasing targets in cricket is a task full of pressure. In ODIs and T20Is, the team batting second always needs to chase the target set by the opposition team in the 1st innings. If they failed to chase the target, they suffer a defeat. While chasing, teams have to score runs at the required run rate and the batsmen have to safeguard their wickets.

Often chasing a target becomes a task full of pressure. The fielding team utilizes their full potential to pressurize the batsmen and dismiss them. However, there are many players who showcased impressive potential while chasing targets.

They played many match-winning knocks for their teams while chasing in ODIs along with an impressive batting average. In this listicle, we form a team of Best XI of players with the best batting average while chasing in ODIs.

Best XI Of Players With The Best Batting Average While Chasing In ODIs

Jonny Bairstow (England)- 52.88

Jonny Bairstow should be the opener of this team. The England batsman has an amazing average of 52.88 while chasing in ODIs. While chasing in 42 ODI innings, the right-handed batsman has scored 1904 runs with 6 centuries and 7 half-centuries. He also had a decent strike rate of 112.39 while following a target.

His highest knock while chasing in 50-overs cricket is an unbeaten 141-run knock. He played this match-winning knock in an ODI against West Indies in September 2017, while chasing a 288-run target.

Shai Hope (West Indies)- 52.63

West Indies cricketer Shai Hope should be the second opener in this team. The right-handed batsman owns an average of 52.63 while chasing in ODIs, along with a strike rate of 74.54.

The Caribbean player has also smacked 6 centuries and 10 half-centuries while chasing targets in ODI cricket. His highest knock while chasing is of unbeaten 146 runs.

Virat Kohli (India)- 68.08

Virat Kohli should be the number 3 batsman in this team. Kohli’s might while chasing is a well-known thing among cricket fans. While chasing, Kohli owns a batting average of 68.08, the highest of all the players in this list.

The Indian skipper has scored 7149 runs in 136 ODIs while chasing and smacked 26 centuries and 33 half-centuries at a strike rate of 94.46. The stats clearly reveals how efficient the Indian cricketer is at chasing. His highest knock during an ODI chase is 183 runs.

AB de Villiers (South Africa)- 56.81

Ab de Villiers should be another batsman in this team. The former South African cricketer has been a wonderful chaser with his hard-hitting batting style. While chasing targets in ODIs, the former South African skipper has mustered 4204 runs in 103 innings at an average of 56.81 and strike rate of 95.04.

The right-handed batsman has also shattered 7 centuries and 28 half-centuries while chasing, with the highest knock of unbeaten 103 runs.

Michael Bevan (Australia)- 56.60

Former Australian cricketer Michael Bevan is another player who owns a very good strike rate while chasing in ODIs. During his active ODI career from 1994 to 2004, the right-handed batsman played 81 innings while chasing.

He scored 2882 runs at an average of 56.60 and strike rate of 67.60, while also smacking 3 centuries and 19 half-centuries. His highest knock during an ODI chase was 107 runs.

MS Dhoni (India)- 51.04 (Captain and Wicketkeeper)

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni should be the captain and wicketkeeper of this team. With his efficiency to chase targets, the Indian cricketer has earned the tag of one of the best finishers of all time. The wicketkeeper-batsman played 145 innings while chasing targets in ODIs, and scored 4849 runs at an average of 51.04.

With a strike rate of 80.50, he played many incredible match-winning knocks for India during his career from 2004 to 2019. Dhoni smacked 2 centuries and 35 half-centuries while chasing in 50-overs cricket, with the highest knock of unbeaten 183 runs against Sri Lanka.

Ben Stokes (England)- 46.76

Ben Stokes gets the place of the all-rounder in this team. The right-arm medium pacer also has a great batting average while chasing in ODIs. The England player has smacked 1403 runs in 43 ODI innings while chasing at an average of 46.76.

The left-handed batsman has also smacked 1 century and 9 half-centuries while chasing and owns a brilliant strike rate of 96.29. An unbeaten 102-run knock is his highest score while chasing in 50-overs cricket.

Ravindra Jadeja (India)- 30.07

Ravindra Jadeja is another all-rounder in this team, who will also act as a valuable spin bowler. The left-handed batsman has batted in 54 ODIs while following a target.

He has scored 1443 runs at an average of 30.07, smacking 5 half-centuries and 14 unbeaten knocks. The left-handed batsman also holds a strike rate of 83.36 while chasing. His highest knock in such games is 87.

Lance Klusener (South Africa)- 42.82

Former South African cricketer Lance Klusener will be a great option for a bowler in this team. The Proteas all-rounder scored 1670 runs in 60 ODI innings at an average of 42.82 while chasing. He also held an impressive strike rate of 95.15 while chasing targets in 50-overs cricket.

The left-handed batsman also slammed 1 century and 9 half-centuries while chasing in ODI cricket, along with the highest knock of unbeaten 101 in a match against Zimbabwe in September 1999.

Chris Woakes (England)- 29.68

England player Chris Woakes is another pacer in this team. The England all-rounder is a right-arm medium pacer and right-handed batsman. While chasing targets in ODIs, Woakes holds an average of 29.68. He has mustered 564 runs in 27 ODI innings at a strike rate of 88.26 while chasing, also hitting 2 half-centuries as a tailender.

His highest ODI knock during a chase is an unbeaten 95-run knock, which he slammed in a match against Sri Lanka in June 2016.

Shaun Pollock (South Africa)- 26.84

Shaun Pollock should be another bowler in this team. The former South African skipper has scored 1715 runs in 91 ODIs at an average of 29.56 while chasing targets in ODIs.

The all-rounder also smashed 1 century and 7 half-centuries during ODI chases and held a strike rate of 85.62 while batting second. Pollock was also an effective pacer and he will be the best bowler to pick in this team.