ODI Cricket Legends Who Scored Most Runs In Their Prime

The world of cricket has witnessed some ODI cricket legends who scored most runs in their prime that it became a record. Sport quite like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Matthew Hayden, and Saeed Anwar are some of highest standard batters who achieved this feat.

These five cricketers etched their names in the annals of cricket history through their exceptional performances in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during specific years. This article delves into their remarkable achievements in the respective calendar years, highlighting their batting prowess and contributions to their teams.

Sachin Tendulkar in 1998

Sachin Tendulkar scored 1894 runs in ODIs in the 1998 calendar year. This is the most runs scored by any batsman in a single calendar year in ODI cricket. He also scored 9 centuries and 7 half-centuries in 34 innings, averaging 65.31.  Sachin Tendulkar in his prime was one of the ODI cricket legends.

Here is a breakdown of his scores:

Centuries: 9 (100, 143, 134, 100*, 128, 127*, 141, 118*, 124)

Half-centuries: 7 (54, 67, 95, 80, 65, 53, 77)

Tendulkar’s batting in 1998 was simply phenomenal. He scored runs at will, against all opposition, and in all conditions. In that year alone, he hit four centuries against Australia with highest score of 143 runs. His record-breaking run tally that year is a testament to his greatness as a batsman.

Sourav Ganguly in 1999

In his prime, Sourav Ganguly was unstoppable. Ganguly scored 1767 runs in ODIs in the 1999 calendar year. He scored 4 centuries and 10 half-centuries in 41 innings, averaging 46.50.

Here is a breakdown of his scores:

Centuries: 4 (130*, 183, 139, 153* )

Half-centuries: 10 (60, 50, 60, 65, 57, 50, 97, 85, 54*, 86)

Ganguly’s batting in 1999 was very impressive. He scored runs at a good pace, and he was especially dominant against Sri Lanka, scoring 403 runs in 4 innings at an average of 100.75.

His 183-run innings against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup is one of the most iconic ODI innings of all time. He scored 17 fours and 7 sixes in his innings, and he put on a record-breaking partnership of 318 runs with Rahul Dravid.

Rahul Dravid in 1999

Rahul Dravid scored 1,761 runs in 43 ODIs in 1999, at an average of 46.34 and a strike rate of 75.16. He scored 6 centuries and 8 half-centuries in the year. His highest score was 153, which he scored against New Zealand in Hyderabad.

Here is a breakdown of his scores in ODIs in 1999:

Centuries: 6 (123*, 116, 104*, 145, 103*, 153)

Half-centuries: 8 (68, 51, 63, 81, 54, 53, 61, 77)

Overall, it was a very successful year for Dravid in ODI cricket. He was one of the leading run-scorers in the world, and his performances helped India to win several important matches. Oftenly, Dravid is considered to be a pro test batter of his time, but these records tell us that he was one of the ODI cricket legends.

Sachin Tendulkar in 1996

Sachin Tendulkar scored 1,611 runs in 32 ODIs in 1996, at an average of 53.70 and a strike rate of 82.40. He scored 6 centuries and 9 half-centuries in the year. His highest score was 137 which he scored against Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup.

Here is a breakdown of his scores in ODIs in 1996:

Centuries: 6 (127*, 100, 137, 118, 100, 110, 114)

Half-centuries: 9 (70, 90, 65, 57, 89*, 88, 64, 62, 67)

Tendulkar was the leading run-scorer in the 1996 World Cup, with 523 runs in 7 matches. He was also the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs in the year, behind Brian Lara.

Matthew Hayden in 2007

Matthew Hayden scored 1,601 runs in 32 ODIs in 2007, at an average of 59.29 and a strike rate of 79.19. He scored 5 centuries and 6 half-centuries in the year. His highest score was 181*, which he scored against New Zealand at Hamilton.

Here is a breakdown of his scores in ODIs in 2007:

Centuries: 5 (117, 181*, 101, 158, 103)

Half-centuries: 6 (51, 82, 60, 75, 60, 92)

Hayden was one of the leading run-scorers in ODIs in 2007. He was also the leading run-scorer in the 2007 World Cup, with 659 runs in 9 matches.

Saeed Anwar in 1996

Saeed Anwar scored 1,595 runs in 36 ODIs in 1996, at an average of 51.45 and a strike rate of 91.56. He scored 3 centuries and 10 half-centuries in the year. His highest score was 115, in the same match, Shahid Afridi scored 40=balls 102.

Here is a breakdown of his scores in ODIs in 1996:

Centuries: 3 (115, 104*,0112*)

Half-centuries: 10 (83*, 71, 62, 74, 57, 61, 80, 84*, 54, 91)

Anwar was one of the most destructive batsmen in ODI cricket in the 1990s. He was a master of timing and placement, and he had the ability to score quickly off both the front and back foot. He was also a very good fielder, and he was a valuable asset to the Pakistan team.

In the world of cricket, greatness is measured not only by the records one shatters but also by the impact a player leaves on the hearts and minds of fans. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Matthew Hayden, and Saeed Anwar exemplified this greatness through their extraordinary performances in the ODIs during specific years.

Tendulkar’s run-scoring spree in 1998, Ganguly’s iconic innings in the 1999 World Cup, Dravid’s consistency in the same year, Hayden’s explosive performances in 2007, and Anwar’s destructive batting in 1996, each of these cricketers crafted their own unique legacy.