For almost 20 years, Sachin Tendulkar dominated all the batting charts. While his Test game was extraordinary, he was extremely consistent in the ODIs as well, gaining the peripheral title of ‘God of Cricket’. Then came Virat Kohli, who has been synonymous with the 50-over format ever since his debut.
In fact, since 2009, he has been topping the run-scoring charts almost every year for India and took his game to such heights that the former Indian skipper was adjudged the Cricketer of the Decade (2010–2020). However, it looks like the 2-time ODI World Cup champions now have an heir to King Kohli, and that is none other than Shubman Gill.
Shubman Gill: Best ODI batter since 2022!
Since 2022, Shubman Gill has been lighting up the cricket world like a Diwali fireworks display. The young gun from Punjab has been consistently opening for India in ODIs, and boy, has he made the most of it. Despite his current okay-ish batting form, Gill has easily outscored everyone in the batting charts. No other batter has amassed more ODI runs than Gill’s 2,238 in this period.
| Player | Runs | Av. | SR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 2,238 | 63.94 | 103.65 |
| Pathum Nissanka | 2,195 | 52.26 | 92.77 |
| Babar Azam | 1,744 | 56.25 | 86.93 |
| Virat Kohli | 1,703 | 54.93 | 96.32 |
| Vriitya Aravind | 1,650 | 35.86 | 69.35 |
Gill’s exuberance on top!
Gill’s ascent to the top of the ODI batting charts has been nothing short of meteoric. In just two years, he’s gone from “promising talent” to “The Prince of Indian Cricket!” When Gill is on song, there are hardly any better looking batter than him. Cricket lovers can watch him hit those sumptuous drives over and over again.
But it’s not just about the quantity of runs – it’s the way he’s scoring them. Gill’s batting is impeccably smooth and pleasing to eyes. He’s got most of the shots in the book. Whether he’s dancing down the track to spinners or effortlessly driving the quicks through the covers, Gill makes it look easier than anything.
Virat Kohli vs Shubman Gill?
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room – the Kohli comparison. For years, Virat Kohli has been the benchmark for ODI batting excellence. The man’s records are more numerous than stars in the sky. But here’s the kicker – Gill isn’t just living up to those lofty standards; he’s threatening to surpass them. Gill, who has played 45 ODIs thus far has scored 2,287 runs. In comparison to Kohli, Gill is miles ahead. In fact, by the time Kohli played his 45th innings, he was standing at 1,814 runs. This is a different matter than Kohli went on a ‘God Mode’ especially in the 2016-2018 period. If Gill can come close to that heroic stature is remained to be seen.
Highest ODI average (min. 2000 runs)
| Player | Runs | Av. |
|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 2,287 | 60.18 |
| Virat Kohli | 13,872 | 58.53 |
| Babar Azam | 5,729 | 56.72 |
| Rassie van der Dussen | 2,360 | 52.44 |
| Shai Hope | 5,177 | 50.26 |
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