4 Best No. 3 batsmen in ODI cricket at the moment
The top 3 sets the tone for a team in ODI cricket. And the number 3 batsman is as important as an opener, as he has sharply varying duties.
A number 3 batsman sometimes comes in early, while other times he comes in after a foundation has already been built. Both scenarios present their own challenges. The runs scored by a number 3 batsman largely depend on the situation of the match.
Here, we look at the top 4 current batsmen who have mastered this position according to me:
4) Babar Azam
Pakistan's eternal search for a solid number 3 ended when Babar Azam came onto the scene. Azam has been quite consistent at number 3 for Pakistan and he is also the second quickest after Quinton de Kock to score 5 ODI hundreds.
In 36 innings played at number 3, Azam has scored 1726 runs at an average of 59.52 with 8 hundreds and 4 half centuries.
3) Joe Root
Joe Root has been a reliable batsman for England across all formats for some time now. Although he hasn't taken his white ball game to the next level yet, the plethora of stroke makers present in the England team have enabled him to play his game and score runs quite consistently.
Root averages 61.11 at number 3 scoring 2811 runs in 57 innings. He has scored 9 hundreds and 18 half centuries in the process.
2) Kane Williamson
Arguably New Zealand's finest batsman since the great Martin Crowe, Kane Williamson is already a Kiwi legend. His terrific ability to play spin and pace equally well marks him out as one of the best batsmen of this current generation.
In 99 innings played at number 3, Kane has notched up 4565 runs at an average of 49.62 with 32 half centuries and 9 centuries.
1) Virat Kohli
Who else but the best batsman in the world, the run machine King Kohli, at the No. 1 slot.
The guy has made the number 3 position his own after making his debut in 2011 against the Windies. His consistency at this position puts him on a different pedestal altogether, and he is already being considered as a legend in this form of the game.
In 156 innings played at number 3, Kohli has scored 8139 runs at an astonishing average of 63.59 with 31 hundreds and 38 half centuries.