Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma dominated India's ODI batting performances in 2018. Both players breached the 1,000-run mark. Kohli also completed 10,000 ODI runs this year, becoming the fastest to the milestone, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record.
With 1,202 runs from 14 ODIs, India captain Virat Kohli emerged as the highest run-getter in the format in 2018. He also topped the 50-over century chart with six.
Apart from Kohli, another Indian batsman, Rohit Sharma too breached the 1,000-run mark for the year with 1,030 runs from 19 matches. The next best was Shikhar Dhawan (897).
Also read: The Top 5 Test batsmen of 2018
Only three players — Kohli, Rohit and Jonny Bairstow (England) managed to aggregate 1,000 runs in ODIs in 2018
MyNation looks back at the year and has listed out India's 10 best ODI knocks. Kohli and Rohit feature heavily in the list.
After having lost the three-Test series 1-2 in South Africa, India took on the Proteas in the six-match rubber and Kohli dominated with the bat. Thanks to his 159-ball 160 not out in Cape Town, the visitors posted 303/6 in 50 overs and later skittled out the South Africans for 179. Kohli's masterclass took India to an unassailable 3-0 lead. Later, India claimed the trophy with 5-1 verdict.
Also read: India's Top 10 T20I knocks of 2018
Opener Rohit was in his elements as he struck a 114-ball 137 not out against England to take the team home in the chase of 269 in the three-match opener. Rohit took over after chinaman Kuldeep Yadav bamboozled the hosts' batsmen with 6/25.
Also read: Top 5 debutants who lit up Test cricket in 2018
Fans were thrilled to watch India-Pakistan battles at this year's Asia Cup in UAE. And Shikhar Dhawan gave plenty of reasons for his home supporters as he constructed a century leading to a comfortable nine-wicket win in the Super Four stage of the tournament. He and Rohit (111) added 210 runs for the first wicket in 238-run chase.
Also read: Top 5 ODI spinners of 2018
India were set a target of 323 and it was made to look easy by Rohit's knock. The hosts romped home in 42.1 overs in the series opener.
It was double trouble for the Windies with both Rohit (152 not out) and Kohli smashing the bowlers. Kohli got out for a superb 140 but Rohit carried on to finish the job.
West Indies bowlers continued to suffer at the hands of Kohli as he struck his second successive century of the series, this time 157 not out from 129 balls. However, the end result was a thrilling tie as the visitors matched India's 321. During this match, Kohli also completed 10,000 runs in ODIs, becoming the fastest to the milestone, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record.
The run deluge continued for India as Rohit delighted his home fans at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium with 162. India posted a mammoth 377/5 and won by a whopping 224-run margin to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match rubber.
With a small total of 205 to be chased in Centurion, Kohli scored more than half of the target, 129 not out. The king of run chases piloted India to victory in 32.1 overs. With this India created history by claiming the six-match series 5-1. Kohli won the Man-of-the-series award.
Rohit hit 115 as India posted 274/7 and later restricted the Proteas to 201. Rohit showed his class as none of the other Indian batsmen managed to go past 36 (Kohli).
Rayudu, with his knock of 100 against the West Indies, almost sealed the No 4 spot. This innings was a turning point for the right-hander as he earned praise from captain Kohli. He has definitely stolen a march over others in the race to World Cup 2019 middle order spots.
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