Highest batting strike rates in ODI World Cups: The word ‘intent’ has become a big buzzword for all the teams in the World Cups. There has been a growing emphasis on batting strike rates in this tournament. Teams have a keen eye on the NRR when they are in a position to dominate.
In a ten-team tournament, it is often the NRR that decides the final semifinal spot. Hence the intent of the batters becomes even more significant. New Zealand, South Africa, and India at different stages have gone all out to win with big margins. Few of their batters have upped the ante.
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We look at the Highest Batting Strike Rates In ODI World Cups (current players):
[Qualification – minimum 500 runs scored]
#5 Joe Root – 89.92
The England mainstay has had an indifferent World Cup so far. Joe Root has struggled to get going in the powerplay. He will look to string a series of good scores starting with the game against South Africa. Root is vital to England’s plans. He played a crucial role in the side’s World Cup win in the previous edition.
Root has scored 928 runs in 20 World Cup games at a top strike rate of 89.92. He occupies the fifth spot on this coveted list. Root is the only one on this list among the fab-four.
#4 Quinton de Kock – 92.00
He started off the tournament with a bang. Quinton de Kock smashed a fine hundred against Sri Lanka in the opening game for South Africa. He used the short boundaries to good effect and piled up the misery on hapless Lankan bowlers. It was his innings against Australia though that attracted huge eyeballs. He paced his innings beautifully setting up a terrific South African win over the 5-time champions. QDK has scored 679 World Cup runs at a strike rate of 92.
#3 Jonny Bairstow – 92.25
There is a reason why England won the last edition of the World Cup. They have two batters in the top-5 batting strike rates. Jonny Bairstow is amongst the finest limited-overs openers. He is someone who symbolizes England’s aggressive approach brilliantly.
It was Bairstow’s century against India in the 2019 World Cup that started the turnaround for England. He is yet to hit the straps completely this time around. Expect Bairstow to strike big soon. He has a World Cup strike rate of 92.25 in 14 games.
#2 David Warner – 96.44
He wasn’t in the best of form leading into the World Cup. David Warner though transforms into a different batter once he enters the ODI World Cup arena. He had a brilliant World Cup in 2019 scoring over 600 runs. Warner continues to be a matchwinner for Australia. He showed glimpses of his vintage self in the game against Sri Lanka.
Warner will look to build on that start and score consistently. His ability to take the game away from the opposition makes him a dangerous prospect. He strikes at 96.44 in 21 games wherein he has notched up 1,057 runs already.
#1 Rohit Sharma – 102.55
He is the only active batter to strike at more than 100 in World Cup cricket. Rohit Sharma is arguably among the greatest World Cup players of all time. Nobody has scored more World Cup centuries (7) than Sharma. His records have all come in just 3 World Cups (2015, 2019, and 2023*). He was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 edition wherein he amassed 648 runs.
Sharma then adopted a cautious approach in the powerplay and went big in the second half of the innings. But he has completely flipped the template in the current edition. He has been hell-bent on maximizing the powerplay knowing batting will gradually get difficult. His World Cup career strike rate currently reads 102.55 comprising 7 centuries and a total of 1,243 runs.
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