The top 3 batsmen with the highest batting averages in cricket history are known for extraordinary consistency. One holds an unmatched record near 100, another excels with a modern-era average close to 60, and the third achieved an impressive average exceeding 61, showcasing remarkable dominance in the longest format.
3. Joe Root – 18268 at 49.5
Among the standout batters of the current era is England’s superstar Joe Root. Widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation, Root’s potential for greatness was evident from an early age. He made his Test debut at 22 and quickly adapted to the demands of the format.
While Root has delivered notable performances in ODIs and T20Is, his true legacy lies in Test cricket. Seen as a player capable of surpassing Alastair Cook to become England’s greatest Test batsman, Root has accumulated an impressive 18,268 international runs. His career average hovers just below 50, impacted by a T20I average of 35, though his Test and ODI averages each sit slightly above the 50 mark.
2. Steve Smith – 15001 runs at 49.67
Although Steve Smith has fewer international runs than Virat Kohli, he has firmly established himself as one of the greatest batters in both ODIs and Tests. Many regard him as the finest Test batsman of the modern era, with some even hailing him as one of the greatest of all time. Notably, Smith was a key member of Australia’s victorious 2021 T20 World Cup squad, the 2015 ODI World Cup-winning team, and recently added the World Test Championship to his resume with a century in the final against India.
Smith’s journey began as a leg-spinner, but he transformed his game to become one of the most dominant batters in cricket history. His current Test average stands at an extraordinary 59.96. Among players with at least 5,000 Test runs, only the legendary Don Bradman (99.94) has a higher average. This statistic underscores Smith’s unparalleled consistency in the longest and most challenging format of the game.
1. Virat Kohli – 25,385 runs at average of 53.44
Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-format batsmen in cricket history. Recognized as a prodigy early on, Kohli led India to victory in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup, the same year he made his ODI debut. His T20I debut followed in 2010, and by 2011, he had earned his place in the Test side. By the end of 2013, Kohli had firmly established himself as the heir to Sachin Tendulkar, playing pivotal roles in India’s triumphs at the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Kohli’s loyalty to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was cemented when he became the only player they retained in 2011, and within a few years, he rose to captain the franchise. His dominance in the sport over the years earned him the prestigious ICC Player of the Decade award in 2020.
Despite a dip in form after 2020, Kohli’s international batting average remains an impressive 53.44. With a staggering 25,385 international runs and 75 centuries across formats, he holds the record for the second-most hundreds in international cricket.