Sachin Tendulkar left out of top 5 Indian ODI batters of all time; Virat Kohli takes the top spot

Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie picked his top five Indian ODI cricketers of all time ahead of the five-match T20I series between the two cricket teams, set to commence on Wednesday. The former fast bowler surprisingly left out legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar but named him as No. 6 on his list.

Sachin Tendulkar ended his illustrious ODI career as the format’s highest run-getter, amassing 18,426 runs in 463 matches at an average of 44.83 and a strike rate of 86.23. The “Little Master” smashed 49 centuries, the second-most in ODIs. He also played a key role in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph at home.

Jason Gillespie Picks His Top 5 Indian ODI Cricketers of All Time; Excludes Sachin Tendulkar

Jason Gillespie named former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan at number five on his list of India’s greatest ODI players. Dhawan had an impressive strike rate and average throughout his career.

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Dhawan, who was known for his explosive starts and consistency at the top of the order, scored 6,793 runs in 167 matches at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35. He made crucial contributions in ICC tournaments, especially alongside Rohit Sharma.

Legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni, who has exceptional finishing ability and leadership qualities, came in at four on Gillespie's list. The former Indian captain scored 10,599 runs at an average of 50.23 and a strike rate of 87.13 in 347 ODIs, leading India to the 2011 World Cup title.

Virat Kohli at the Top of Jason Gillespie’s List of All-Time Best Indian ODI Cricketers

Jason Gillespie named Virender Sehwag third on his list for his fearless stroke play and exceptional strike rate of over 104 in 241 ODIs. Sehwag is the only Indian batter to score more than 7,000 runs while maintaining a strike rate above 100.

He placed Rohit Sharma, who recently led India to the 2025 Champions Trophy title, second on his list for his remarkable consistency and record-breaking achievements, including three double centuries, the most by any player in ODI history.

Rohit has scored 11,370 runs at an average of 49.22 and a strike rate of 92.66. He recently won the Player of the Series award during the three-match ODI series against Australia.

Gillespie named Virat Kohli as India’s greatest ODI batter of all time. Kohli has amassed 14,255 runs at an average of 57.71 and a strike rate of 93.25. He is the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history and the all-time leader in centuries with 51.

Jason Gillespie's top 5 Indian ODI batters of all-time: 1. Virat Kohli 2. Rohit Sharma 3. Virender Sehwag 4. MS Dhoni 5. Shikhar Dhawan

Glenn McGrath Picks His Top 5 Indian ODI Cricketers of All Time

Jason Gillespie's former fast-bowling partner, Glenn McGrath, also revealed his top five Indian batters in One Day Internationals. McGrath placed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the top two names on his list.

McGrath chose Sachin Tendulkar for the No. 3 spot in his list. Tendulkar was India’s leading run-scorer during the 2011 ODI World Cup campaign. McGrath named MS Dhoni at number four.

McGrath picked all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who was named Player of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup, for the final spot. Yuvraj was instrumental in India’s World Cup success. He scored 8,609 runs in 301 ODIs at an average of 36.47 and a strike rate of 87.43.

Glenn McGrath's top 5 Indian ODI batters of all-time: 1. Virat Kohli 2. Rohit Sharma 3. Sachin Tendulkar 4. MS Dhoni 5. Yuvraj Singh

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