Best ODI Batting Averages of All Time — The All-Time Leaderboard

The Most Elite Club in ODI Cricket

Maintaining a batting average above 50 in One Day International cricket is the mark of a generational talent. The format demands adaptability — the ability to anchor an innings when wickets tumble and accelerate when the situation requires boundaries. Across more than 4,500 ODIs played in the history of the game, fewer than two dozen batters have managed a career average above 50 (minimum 20 dismissals).

The leaderboard is not simply a ranking of the most prolific run-scorers. It is a measure of consistency, of the ability to convert starts into match-shaping contributions over hundreds of innings. What makes this list remarkable is the diversity of eras, nations, and — crucially — genders represented at the top.

The All-Time Top 20 — ODI Batting Average

Qualification: minimum 20 dismissals. Source: CricMind global cricket database (Cricsheet ball-by-ball archive).

The Names at the Top

Daryl Mitchell — The Quiet Leader

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell sits atop this list with an average of 59.76 from 54 matches. His 2,689 ODI runs have been compiled with a remarkably low dismissal rate, a hallmark of a batter who rarely gives his wicket away cheaply. Mitchell's rise through this leaderboard was powered by consistent performances in ICC events — his 2023 World Cup semi-final century against India is among the great ODI knocks of the modern era. His position at the summit is a testament to sustained excellence in high-pressure environments.

Virat Kohli — The Volume King

Virat Kohli at number two is the most extraordinary entry on this list. An average of 58.47 is elite by any standard, but doing it across 298 matches and 14,675 runs elevates it to something unprecedented. No batter in ODI history has combined such volume with such consistency. Where Mitchell's average benefits from a smaller sample, Kohli's has been stress-tested across 15 years, on every continent, against every bowling attack. His 50-plus average has survived lean patches, format evolution, and the relentless pressure of chasing in India blue.

Mithali Raj — Pioneer at Number Three

The presence of Mithali Raj at third on the all-time list — ahead of legends like AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni — is a powerful statement. Her 57.82 average from 70 ODIs was built on patience, immaculate placement, and the ability to bat long. Raj was the backbone of India's women's cricket for over two decades, and her numbers stand comparison with any era of the men's game.

The Volume vs. Sample Size Debate

One of the recurring discussions around ODI batting averages is the tension between volume and selectivity. A batter with 29 matches (Dawid Malan, 56.72) has had far fewer opportunities to fail than one with 298 (Kohli, 58.47) or 281 (Dhoni, 51.37).

Consider the contrast:

• High-volume legends (150+ matches): Kohli (298), Dhoni (281), de Villiers (213), Root (178), Amla (174) — their averages have been battle-tested thousands of times.
• Mid-career stars (50–150 matches): Babar Azam (133), Wolvaardt (119), Perry (107), Mandhana (99) — still accumulating, averages likely to settle.
• Smaller samples (under 50 matches): Mitchell (54), Malan (29), Sciver-Brunt (33) — brilliant records, but with less statistical certainty.

This does not diminish the smaller-sample entries. Mitchell's average, for instance, has been built largely in World Cup and bilateral series against top opposition. But it is worth noting that no batter in history has maintained above 55 across 200-plus matches — Kohli's 58.47 from 298 games may be the single most impressive batting statistic in ODI cricket.

The Women's Game — Five in the Top 20

Five women feature in the all-time top 20: Mithali Raj (3rd), Meg Lanning (5th), Nat Sciver-Brunt (6th), Ellyse Perry (8th), and Laura Wolvaardt (11th). Amy Satterthwaite (12th), Smriti Mandhana (16th), and Beth Mooney (17th) push the count to eight of the top twenty.

This is not a quirk of small sample sizes. Meg Lanning has 76 ODIs and 3,555 runs — a substantial body of work. Laura Wolvaardt has played 119 matches with 5,384 runs, the highest volume among women on this list. Ellyse Perry at 107 matches and 3,750 runs is one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history.

The inclusion of these names alongside Kohli, de Villiers, and Dhoni is a reflection of the extraordinary quality in the women's ODI game. The numbers speak for themselves.

Notable Absences

Several all-time greats do not appear in this top 20. Sachin Tendulkar, the highest ODI run-scorer ever (18,426 runs), averaged 44.83 — remarkable for its era but below this threshold. Sir Vivian Richards averaged 47.00 from 187 matches. Ricky Ponting averaged 42.04 across 375 games. Kumar Sangakkara (41.98) and Brian Lara (40.48) fall further down.

The modern generation's higher averages reflect several factors: improved batting techniques, smaller grounds, two-new-ball rules reducing reverse swing, better fitness and sports science, and — in some cases — shorter career windows that preserve the average.

The Indian Dominance

India places six batters in the top 20: Kohli (2nd), Raj (3rd), Gill (7th), Dhoni (13th), Rahul (15th), and Mandhana (16th). No other nation has more than three. This reflects both the depth of Indian batting talent and the sheer volume of ODI cricket India plays — more bilateral series, more ICC events, more opportunities to accumulate runs in conditions that reward batting.

South Africa places four (de Villiers, Wolvaardt, Amla, van der Dussen), England three (Malan, Sciver-Brunt, Trott, Root — four total), Australia three (Lanning, Perry, Mooney), and New Zealand two (Mitchell, Satterthwaite). Pakistan has one in Babar Azam at 53.74.

What the Numbers Show

The all-time ODI batting average leaderboard reveals three truths about the format:

• Consistency over flair. The names at the top are not the biggest hitters or the most explosive stroke-makers. They are the batters who rarely fail — who convert 30s into 80s and 80s into centuries.
• The modern era rewards technique. Every batter in the top 10 debuted after 2005. The evolution of ODI cricket — field restrictions, batting-friendly tracks, DLS chases — has created conditions where elite technique is rewarded more handsomely than ever.
• Women's cricket belongs in the same conversation. Eight women in the top 20 is not an anomaly. It is the standard. The quality gap between men's and women's ODI batting has narrowed dramatically, and this leaderboard is the proof.

FAQ

Who has the best ODI batting average of all time?

Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand leads the all-time list with an average of 59.76 from 54 matches and 2,689 runs. Virat Kohli is second at 58.47 from 298 matches.

What is Virat Kohli's ODI batting average?

Virat Kohli has an ODI batting average of 58.47, compiled over 298 matches and 14,675 runs — the highest volume of any batter averaging above 55.

Which women's cricketers have the best ODI batting average?

Mithali Raj (57.82), Meg Lanning (56.43), and Nat Sciver-Brunt (56.04) are the top three women on the all-time list. Laura Wolvaardt (52.27) and Ellyse Perry (55.15) also feature in the top 20 across both genders.

Why is Sachin Tendulkar not in the top 20 ODI batting averages?

Sachin Tendulkar averaged 44.83 in ODIs — an outstanding record for his era, but below the 48.63 threshold of the current top 20. The modern game's batting-friendly conditions have pushed elite averages higher than in Tendulkar's peak years.