The Best Batsman In The World In Every Format

Cricket in the 21st century is gearing towards being a batsman-dominated sport. In the 80’s and 90’s we had fearsome bowlers like Dennis Lillee, Micheal Holding, Wasim Akram, Glen McGrath etc who were global icons and dominated the sport. However, as of 2020, batsmen are well and truly on top now, and the most famous cricketers in the current scenario are often known for their batting prowess. Let’s take a look at the best batsman in the world in every format of the game. 

The Best Batsman In The World In ODI Cricket

Virat Kohli – India

Virat Kohli is a modern marvel of the sport. He is currently the best batsman in the world and averages more than 50 in all 3 formats of the game. He already has 70 centuries to his name, with a staggering 43 of them coming in ODI’s. In the IPL he represents the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Kohli has already broken several ODI records which have been untouched for decades, and is coming very close to breaking more records, most of which are currently held by the Little Master Sachin Tendulkar. In 242 ODI innings, Kohli has scored a staggering 12040 runs, at an alarmingly high average of 59.31. His strike rate is also very good at 93.25, and he has hit 60 half-centuries.

The Delhi lad has hit more than 1100 fours and also 125 sixes, highlighting the fact that he can be a very attacking batsman while also shouldering the responsibility of pacing his innings, especially while chasing, which seems to be his specialty. Though Kohli won the 2011 World Cup with India, his form in the 3 World Cups he has played hasn’t been the best. He has a highest score of 183, and among his many records, the best one is that he is the fastest man to reach 10000 runs in ODI cricket, beating Sachin Tendulkar by 54 innings !

Kohli is a very aggressive cricketer by nature, even with his body language. He loves to embrace the challenge of taking on the very best of bowlers around the world, and more often than not comes out on top. He plays every single shot to perfection, and has a huge selection of shots he has mastered. His commitment to his fitness levels is alarming, and will definitely help him prolong his brilliant career.

At the age of 32, and with plenty of cricket still left for him to play, Kohli is already regarded as probably the all-time best batsman in the world, and is well on course to beat several more records in the near future. He is currently ranked 1 in the ICC Rankings for ODIs, confirming his status as the best batsman in the world in this format. 

The Best Batsman In The World In Test Cricket

Steven Smith – Australia 

The undisputed best batsman in the world of Test cricket over the last 2 years, Steve Smith is a true modern marvel. A late bloomer who had actually joined the team as a leg-spinner who could bat a bit, Smith has gone from strength to strength, especially after the tragic death of his best friend Phil Hughes on the pitch. In just 131 innings, Smith has managed to score 7227 runs at an extraordinary average of 62.84.

He has hit 26 centuries and 29 half-centuries over the years, and has a highest score of 239. Smith crossed the 1000 run barrier four years in a row between 2014-2017, becoming the only batsmen to ever do that. In 2018 he got banned for 12 months for that infamous ball-tampering scandal along with David Warner and Bancroft. He was dearly missed by Australia during that time, and came back as strong as ever to have a magical series in England, as Australia retained the Ashes with a brilliant performance across all 4 tests.

Smith scored 774 runs in just 7 innings, including back to back centuries in both innings of the first test match. His average during the series was an unreal 110, firmly placing him top of the Test batting rankings and eventually led to him being considered as the best batsman in the world in Tests.

Smith is a very unorthodox batsman, who is very entertaining to watch with his quirky batting stance and even quirkier leaves. He can play some amazing attacking shots with incredible movement of his feet, and at the same time block some of the best bowlers in the world with impeccable defensive technique as well, highlighting his versatility. He is currently ranked 1 in the ICC Test rankings, confirming his status as the best batsman in the world in the longest format of the game. 

The Best Batsman In The World In T20 Internationals 

Dawid Malan

Though Malan has never played in the IPL yet, he has emerged as the best batsman in the world in 2020 for England in the shortest format of the game. One of the very few exclusive T20 players in the England set up, the left-handed batsman has scored 855 runs in just 19 innings at a staggering average of 53.44, one of the highest in this format.

Combined with a strike rate of almost 150, Malan’s consistency is unbelievable. He has hit 1 century and 9 half centuries, in just 19 innings. Malan has scored a huge amount of runs in every global T20 league he has played in so far, and we cannot wait to see him make his IPL debut next season, as we believe he is the current best batsman in the world in this format. His status as the best batsman in the world in T20 internationals was confirmed with his top rank in the latest ICC T20 Rankings. 

The Best Batsman In The World In The IPL 

KL Rahul

KL Rahul has one of the fastest growing reputations in world cricket. The South Indian keeper-batsman was the top scorer in the recently concluded IPL 2020, amassing 670 runs in 14 innings at an amazing average of 55, with 1 century and 5 fifties. His innings of 132 was one of the best innings that season.

In the previous season, Rahul scored 593 runs with 1 century and 6 fifties, and in 2018 he scored 659 runs in 144 innings at an average of 53. Rahul has scored 2647 runs in 81 IPL matches, 2319 of which have come in the last 4 seasons, more than any other player during that time period. Rahul has also scored 2 T20 international tons for India, with a highest score of 110.

Though he has played just 41 innings for India in international T20s, it is his IPL form which has elevated him to the top of the pile. He has been the undisputed best batsman in the world when it comes to the IPL in the last 3 seasons, scoring a total of 1922 runs during that period, much more than any other player over the last 3 seasons.