5 best ODI batsmen in the world right now 

The ICC World Cup is scheduled to take place in England & Wales next June and the focus is slowly shifting towards the most prestigious cricketing event. Teams are stepping up their preparations for the World Cup and trying to get their ODI combinations right.

England are currently the most in-form ODI team in world cricket and their batsmen, in particular, are in ominous form. They have developed into an ODI powerhouse in the last few years and thrashed Australia 5-0 in the recently concluded ODI series.

Players like Joe Root, Brendon Taylor, Alex Hales, Aaron Finch, Kane Williamson, Shaun Marsh, and Jason Roy have scored a lot of runs in ODIs this calendar year. However, the ones on this list have played some consistent cricket over the last 12 months and have scored a truckload of runs.

Without much ado, let’s take a look at the 5 best ODI batsmen in the world right now.

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#5 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma's record in ODI is exceptional

Rohit Sharma is one of the best limited-overs opening batsmen India has ever produced. The 31-year-old has been an exceptional performer in One Day Internationals for the last few years.

Rohit Sharma’s abilities to pace an ODI innings is one of his greatest attributes. Though there were question marks over his consistency, he has overcome that to an extent in the last 12 months. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have formed a ruthless partnership at the top for India in ODIs and T20s.

In ODIs since June 2017, Rohit has scored almost 1500 runs at an average of 61, which includes six hundreds and a stunning double hundred. He is also the only batsman to score three double hundreds in One Day Internationals.

Rohit Sharma's ODI stats since June 2017:

Games: 27; Runs: 1463; Average: 61

#4 Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor is one of New Zealand's greatest ever ODI player

Ross Taylor is one of the best New Zealand ODI batsmen of all-time and only behind Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, on the list of most runs scored by Kiwi batsmen in One Day Internationals.

The 34-year-old has played more than 200 ODI games for New Zealand and scored more than 7000 runs. With 19 hundreds, he has also scored the most number of ODI hundreds by a New Zealand batsmen.

Taylor has been in phenomenal form in the last 12 months. Since June 2017, he has scored 929 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 77.4. He is a key batsman in the New Zealand middle-order and has played quite a few match-winning knocks for them.

Ross Taylor's ODI stats since June 2017:

Games: 17; Runs: 929; Average: 71.46

#3 Jonny Bairstow

Bairstow scored a stunning 139 against Australia last week

He is arguably the most in-form batsman in One Day Internationals at the moment. Jonny Bairstow has been stunning for England in ODI cricket over the last 12 months and has scored a lot of runs.

Opening the batting, Bairstow has scored four hundreds in his last 8 ODI innings. He has played 48 ODIs and scored 1856 runs. Since June 2017, the 28-year-old has scored 1209 runs at an average of 66.63.

WIth the 2019 World Cup scheduled to take place in England next June, Bairstow could be the key to England's fortunes in the tournament. His ODI career strike rate stands at an impressive 104.03.

Jonny Bairstow's ODI stats since June 2017:

Games: 22; Runs: 1209; Average: 63.63

#2 Jos Buttler

Buttler celebrates his ODI hundred against Australia

He is arguably the most destructive batsman in world cricket at the moment. He has played some scintillating innings for England in the last couple of years and has won a lot of games single-handedly in ODIs.

Jos Buttler holds the record for the fastest hundred (46 balls) by an England player in ODI cricket. He has matured a lot over the years and improved his abilities to play spinners. He is a versatile batsman who can bat anywhere in the top 6.

The 27-year-old's ODI strike rate of 117.52 is a testament to his phenomenal hitting abilities. Since June 2017, Buttler has scored 725 runs at an average of 65.9. More than the numbers, what makes him a great limited-overs cricketer is his ability to destroy bowlers.

Jos Buttler's ODI stats since June 2017:

Games: 24; Runs: 725; Average: 65.9

#1 Virat Kohli

Kohli celebrates his 33rd ODI hundred

Virat Kohli is the best batsman in One Day Internationals at the moment. The Indian Captain has been a consistent performer in all three formats of the game, scoring a lot of runs year after year.

Hailed by many as one of the greatest limited-overs batsmen of all-time, Kohli has scored 9588 runs in just 208 ODI games. With 35 hundreds in ODIs, Virat Kohli is second only to Sachin Tendulkar on the list of most career ODI hundreds.

Since June 2017, the 29-year-old has amassed more than 1800 runs at an unbelievable average of 96.5. He has scored eight hundreds in the last 12 months and played a stellar role for India in their 5-1 ODI series win against South Africa.

Virat Kohli's ODI stats since June 2017:

Games: 29; Runs: 1833; Average: 96.5