Best ODI average as captain
The captain is the sole one who is responsible for not only managing his players and getting to understand them better, but also devising methods to help the team succeed. However, if the skipper is also the group’s finest batter, it becomes much more important for him to add to the team’s performance with the bat. And the best way to possibly determine that is his average with the bat.
A good average does not imply that the player is a good captain, but it surely gives a clear understanding of his skills and abilities to handle two major responsibilities at a time. Not every player could achieve mastery in both, but there are a few who did the job tremendously. Let us have a look at the top three skippers with the best average in ODIs (minimum 50 innings).
MS Dhoni- 53.55
MS Dhoni reinvented the leadership playbook with his frequent advancements in fielding, bowling changes, and some incredible risky moves that resulted in big returns. In 196 games as captain of India, he scored 6641 runs with six centuries at a brilliant average of 53.55. Apart from being the skipper who led the team to three major title wins, he also saved the team from several difficult scenarios. His unique talent of bringing the game to the final over, getting the viewers to the edge of their seats, and winning the contest in style was his best skill as a batter.
AB de Villiers- 63.94
AB de Villiers made batting seem very simple and hit some outrageous knocks all over the field. That was the reason behind the former Proteas skipper being called a 360-degree player. He led South Africa in 102 ODIs and amassed 4796 runs at a stellar average of 63.94, including 13 hundred. His retirement came as a shocker for many, as he decided to hand over the captaincy a year before the 2019 World Cup. His average as a skipper is far better than his batting average of 53.50, making him a world-class batter and a captain.
Virat Kohli- 72.65
Virat Kohli has had a great record in one-day internationals as captain. He had guided Team India to 65 victories in 95 ODIs. Among all other captains, Kohli holds the record for the best average in ODIs as a skipper, recording at 72.65. Kohli scored 5449 runs in 95 ODI matches while captaining India, including 21 centuries. During his tenure as a captain, the number of centuries scored by him is the most by an Indian captain and the second-best overall as he stands behind Ricky Ponting who holds the record for 22 ODI tons.
