Who is the best hitter of this decade? Ravichandran Ashwin reveals his top pick

In a world of constant cricket debates, few carry as much weight as the title of the ‘Best hitter of the decade.” Indian spider legend Ravichandran Ashwin recently weighed in on this high-stakes discussion in a new video series entitled Game Changers of the Decade. Ashwin, known for his analytical mind and deep tactical knowledge of the game, used the platform to look back on the past decade of international cricket and crown the ultimate running machine.

The elite five nominations for the best of the decade

Before unveiling his top pick, Ashwin acknowledged that the competition was incredibly fierce, highlighting five specific names that have defined modern batting. He pointed out the tremendous turnaround, or rather, the continued dominance of Joe Rootwhich since 2020 “produce tons.” Root’s consistency in Test cricket has made him a statistical wonder, approaching legendary records.

Ashwin also praised Steve Smith for his unparalleled ability to score”high pressure runin the longest format, noting his unique technique and mental strength. When transitioning to the white-ball arena, the veteran spinner gave a special nod to Rohit Sharmawho describes his record as “from another world‘ and claim that it is a ‘deep injusticeNot to mention the impact of the Indian captain. Rounding out the elite mentions were New Zealand’s tactical genius Kane Williamson and the always dangerous David Warnerboth of which Ashwin credited for their incredible longevity and match-winning abilities across formats.

Also READ: Virat Kohli dethroned as Daryl Mitchell regains top spot in ICC ODI batting rankings

Ravichandran Ashwin names world’s best batsman of the decade

Despite the brilliance of the other four, Ashwin was unequivocal in his final decision: Virat Kohli is the best hitter of the decade. Ashwin based his choice on Kohli’s sheer number of runs and his extraordinary ability to adapt in all three formats of the game. He highlighted Kohli’s staggering statistics – with more than 6,000 Test runs and 7,000 ODI runs in the last decade – as a testament to his ‘pure excellence.”

“If you have to enter one name that has been doing the rounds across formats… Yes, I am talking about none other than Virat Kohli himself” said Ashwin.

The off-spinner emphasized that what really sets Kohli apart from colleagues like Smith and Root is his T20 adaptability. He specifically recalled Kohli’s masterclass in the 2016 T20 World Cup quarter-final against Australia in Mohali, calling it the perfect example of how Kohli could do that.give chase and wrap up a T20 game.”

Ashwin further justified the choice by pointing to Kohli’s recent accolades, including the fact that he Player of the Tournament in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the Player of the 2024 T20 World Championship Final. For Ashwin, Kohli’s legacy is not just about numbers; it’s about his ability to perform when the lights are brightest.

Also READ: Virat Kohli’s brother Vikas takes another dig at Sanjay Manjrekar with ‘Mr Expert’ comment