Jason Gillespie names top 5 Indian batters in ODI cricket, no place for Sachin Tendulkar

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Indian cricket has long been synonymous with batting excellence in the One Day International (ODI) arena. From the technical mastery of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to the fearless stroke play of modern-day stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the country has produced an assembly line of batting greats who have defined generations.

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie recently shared his list of the top five Indian ODI batters during a discussion on The Fast Bowling Cartel YouTube channel. His selections, however, stirred significant debate as he left out one of the game’s most iconic names — Tendulkar.

Gillespie began his list with Shikhar Dhawan at number five, emphasizing that the left-hander’s consistency often goes unnoticed. He highlighted Dhawan’s impressive career numbers — an average of 44 and a strike rate of 91 — as evidence of his reliability and impact. The Australian noted that Dhawan’s ability to deliver in ICC tournaments and in key bilateral series made him one of India’s most dependable top-order batters of the modern era.

“Shikhar Dhawan would be number 5 for me. I think he’s slipped under the radar a bit. An average of 44 with a strike rate of 91, which is a huge number. So he would be my number five Dhawan,” said Gilchrist.

At number four, Gillespie placed MS Dhoni, describing him as the “ultimate finisher” in limited-overs cricket. The former pacer praised Dhoni not only for his batting numbers but also for his game awareness and leadership. He pointed out that Dhoni’s calmness under pressure and his knack for timing his innings perfectly were qualities that set him apart from most batters in the world.

“Dhoni would be number four for me. Dhoni’s numbers are absolutely brilliant and you know what a finisher he was,” added Gillespie.

Gillespie’s number three pick was Virender Sehwag, the explosive opener who redefined India’s approach in ODIs. He admired Sehwag’s fearless batting style, which laid the foundation for India’s dominance in the early overs and often broke the opposition’s rhythm before they could settle.

“Virender Sehwag would be number three for me. A strike rate of around 105, an average in the mid-30s, is very good and he comes in at number three on my list,” explained the former Aussie pacer.

Also READ: AB de Villiers names Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni among others in his top 10 batters of ODI cricket

For the second spot, Gillespie went with Rohit, calling him ‘a complete modern-day ODI batsman.’ He was particularly impressed by Rohit’s ability to play long innings and convert starts into mammoth scores. Gillespie said that Rohit’s strike rate of 93 and average close to 50 underline his rare combination of aggression and consistency.

At the top of the list, Gillespie named Kohli, describing him as the most complete ODI batter in the world. Gillespie lauded Kohli’s impeccable chase records, unmatched fitness levels, and hunger for runs, which have made him one of the most dominant figures in modern cricket.

“The real surprise is probably at number two. Here I would put Rohit Sharma at number 2. I mean, with three double centuries in ODIs, Rohit Sharma is the number 2 batsman for me. With his strike rate of 93 and average under 50, that’s pretty good. Number one is absolutely no surprise that Virat Kohli is number 1, I would even say that I think he is the best ODI player in the world,” added Gillespie.

Despite acknowledging several greats, Gillespie’s omission of Tendulkar — India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs and one of cricket’s all-time legends — surprised fans across the globe. Tendulkar’s monumental record of over 18,000 runs, 49 centuries, and a career spanning more than two decades has long been considered untouchable. His exclusion from the top five sparked debate among cricket enthusiasts about whether the modern metrics of strike rates and conversion rates should outweigh longevity and impact.

Anticipating the controversy, Gillespie clarified that Tendulkar’s absence from his top five was not a reflection of any doubt about his greatness. Instead, he explained that his criteria were based on modern ODI dynamics, where the pace of scoring and match impact hold greater weight.

“I have some very good players who have been left out and probably no one is bigger than Sachin. He is number six in my list. So that in itself is controversial,” Gillespie admitted.

By ranking Tendulkar just outside his top five, Gillespie acknowledged the legend’s immense influence but suggested that the newer generation of Indian batters have elevated ODI batting standards further. Still, his comments reignited the timeless debate — can anyone truly surpass Sachin Tendulkar when it comes to defining Indian batting greatness?

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