Hashim Amla had no hesitation in placing Sachin Tendulkar at the very top of his list of favorite ODI batters. Tendulkar is the all-time leading run-scorer in One Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing an incredible 18,426 runs at an average of nearly 45. His tally includes 49 centuries, making him second all-time in that category.
At No. 2, Amla selected the leading ODI centurion, Virat Kohli. Kohli is second on the all-time run-scoring chart in ODIs with 14,255 runs, including a record-breaking 51 centuries. His consistency and match-winning performances have made him one of the modern greats of the game.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting secured the third spot on Amla’s ranking. Ponting led Australia to back-to-back ODI World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007 and is the fourth all-time leading run-scorer in the 50-over format. He scored 13,704 runs in ODIs, including 30 centuries.
One surprise in Amla’s list was the placement of Pakistan batter Babar Azam at No. 7, one spot ahead of Indian legend Rohit Sharma. Babar boasts impressive ODI statistics, with over 6,000 runs at an average of 53.04. Meanwhile, Rohit holds the record for the most ODI double-centuries and the most centuries in ODI World Cups. The former Indian captain is also ninth on the all-time ODI run-scoring list, with 11,370 runs at an average exceeding 49 and a strike rate of nearly 93.
When it came to rounding off his top five, Amla’s choice boiled down to two cricketing greats: former Indian captain MS Dhoni and South African maestro AB de Villiers. Amla selected his former teammate AB de Villiers at No. 4, with Dhoni at No. 5. De Villiers finished his ODI career as the only batter with an average over 50 and a strike rate above 100. He also holds the record for the fastest ODI century, scored off just 31 deliveries in 2015.
MS Dhoni led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title and earned the Player of the Match award in the final. Over his 350-match ODI career, Dhoni scored 10,773 runs at an average of over 50, underscoring his importance as both a finisher and leader.
Finally, Amla included former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara at No. 6, followed by himself and Australian star David Warner completing the top 10.
### Hashim Amla’s Top 10 Favorite ODI Batters
1. Sachin Tendulkar
2. Virat Kohli
3. Ricky Ponting
4. AB de Villiers
5. MS Dhoni
6. Kumar Sangakkara
7. Babar Azam
8. Rohit Sharma
9. David Warner
10. Hashim Amla
This list reflects Amla’s respect for legendary consistency, match-winning ability, and remarkable achievements across ODI cricket history.
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