Sachin Tendulkar tops Viv Richards’ best ODI batsmen list

Sachin Tendulkar tops Viv Richards’ top ODI batsmen list

West Indian cricket legend Viv Richards is widely regarded as the greatest One-Day International (ODI) batsman of all-time. In a column written for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, Richards on Sunday wrote that Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendukar would lead his list of top-10 ODI batsmen of all time.

Richards wrote, “The first name that comes to mind is Sachin Tendulkar. In a single word, I would describe him as a legend. He has always been one of my favourite batsmen and I would pay money to watch him bat. He wasn’t the biggest in size amongst other cricketers of the world but all good things come in small packages. And he was a fantastic batsman.”

Tendulkar is a huge fan of Richards and looked up to the West Indian during his growing up days. Richards, also rated Brain Lara in the same league as Tendulkar.

“I rate Brian Lara the same as Sachin. I would pay to watch him bat too and then pay again and again, and keep paying, however many times it needs to be done,” wrote the 62-year-old Antiguan.

The list had a surprise, as former West Indian skipper named Indian batsman Virat Kohli at number 10 in the list.

He further wrote, “The last name on my list, but not the least by any means, is young Virat Kohli. There might be some surprise regarding this pick because he is very young and has a lot of cricket to play still.”

He added, “But in my eyes, he is already legendary and there cannot be any doubt about that. He is simply magnificent in whatever little time he has played as compared to others. He is only going to get better and better and add to his list of achievements.”

The other cricketers in his list are: Chris Gayle, Clive Lloyd, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Virender Sehwag and AB de Villiers.