When cricketing historians look back to 2016, one name inevitably stands out — AB de Villiers. The South Africa maestro commanded the ICC ODI batting ranking, holding the world No. 1 spot for much of the year. However, as the season unfold, another titan emerged: Virat Kohli, whose dominance nearly rocked AB throne. Meanwhile, David Warner surged up the rankings, making 2016 one of the mostly contested years in recent ODI history.
Let’s the walk through that year — one of the fierce run-making, shifting standing, and unforgettable innings.
The Reigning Champion: AB de Villiers at the Top
As of mid‑October 2016, the ICC rankings placed AB de Villiers firmly at No. 1, holding a rating of 861 points, ahead of Virat Kohli’s 813
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. By late June 2016, AB still led with 887 points, trailed by Kohli (813), Hashim Amla (778), Kane Williamson (752), and Martin Guptill (751)
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This greatness wasn’t new: ABD had enjoyed a golden run from 2009 onward, rarely dropping below the top two and holding the No. 1 position for years . His ability to balance strike rate and composure, rhythm and calculation, made him a defensive bulwark and an explosive finisher in equal measure. Even in a year when others roared, ABD’s legacy held strong.
Kohli’s Meteoric Rise
Though AB ruled early, the subplot of 2016 was the rise of Virat Kohli. Year after year, he elevated his ODI game — and in 2016, he entered a new realm.
Kohli amassed 739 runs in just ten ODIs, averaging a staggering 92.37, including three centuries and four fifties
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. He began the year against Australia, scoring 91, 59, 117, 106 and 8 across five matches — a sensational average of 381 total runs in that single series. By October, he scythed through New Zealand, piling on another 358 in five matches. Few players have ever maintained such consistency
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By December 10, 2016, though ABD still clung to No. 1, Kohli couldn’t be ignored — he was just 2 points behind Warner, who was breathing down his neck after a stellar Chappell‑Hadlee series
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. Kohli capped the year as the captain of the ICC ODI Team of the Year and was widely hailed as 2016’s ODI batting story
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Warner’s Surge: Australia’s Power Opener
In 2016, David Warner was everywhere — swinging freely, scoring in bursts, and topping ODI run charts. He finished the calendar year with 1,388 ODI runs at an average of 63.09, behind only Kohli
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Especially after August, Warner was virtually unstoppable — slamming seven ODI centuries and four fifties across 23 matches
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. From September to December, he hit tons of 106, 117, 173, 119, and 156 — most of his conversion coming against South Africa, New Zealand, and India
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By mid‑October, he had already moved up to rank 3 in ICC ODI batsmen rankings, with 786 points, climbing nine places in just that series window . By year’s end, he was steadily challenging Kohli and ABD.
2016: A Story of Numbers and Narratives
Run-Scoring Kings
According to this year‑end tallies, Kohli led across the all formats with 2,595 runs in 35 internationals (Tests + ODIs + T20Is), narrowly by edging Joe Root, who had accumulated 2,567 runs in 39 games
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. Warner ranked third overall with 2,374 runs across formats
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But in the ODI format alone, Warner topped the list, followed by Kohli and then Quinton de Kock, who scored 857 ODI runs at an average of 57.13 and won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2016
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The ICC ODI Team of the Year
The 2016 ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year reads like a roll call of legends: Virat Kohli as captain, alongside David Warner, Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, AB de Villiers, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Marsh, and others — a stellar XI that spanned continents
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. De Kock, Sri Lanka’s Rohit, Warner, Kohli and ABD all feature — showing the global breadth of top performers.
Who Was the Best ODI Batsman of 2016?
A Case for AB de Villiers
Consistency. Legacy. Technical brilliance. ABD’s command over pace and spin, his ability to anchor as well as accelerate at will, made him a model of modern ODI perfection. Holding the No. 1 ICC ranking throughout most of the year reflected that. His adaptability — to play at No. 4 or 5, stabilize or dominate — set him apart .
A Case for Virat Kohli
Mastery. Ruthless hunger. Precision. Kohli’s average of 92 over ten matches defied conventional norms. He delivered under pressure, continuously converted starts into big scores, and nearly unseated ABD with his sheer output and temperament. He captained the ODI team of the year, and by volume and clutch impact, he turned heads in 2016 .
A Case for David Warner
Raw aggression. Relentless power. Match-winning totals. Warner’s tally of 1,388 ODI runs in a single calendar year is staggering. His strike rate and century count (seven tons) made him the dangerous opener every side dreaded in 2016. He leapfrogged into contention for top spots on the rankings and redefined power-hitting standards .
The Drama of the Rankings
At the heart of 2016’s story was the ebb and flow of ICC ratings:
Early 2016: ABD at No. 1, Kohli at No. 2, Amla, Williamson, Guptill in pursuit .
Mid‑year: Warner’s explosive form rockets him up from ~18 to top‑3; your squad now: ABD, Kohli, Warner as the top trio .
Late 2016: Despite Kohli closing in, ABD maintains a narrow edge at No. 1; Kohli at No. 2, Warner at No. 3—each within a handful of points of each other — a fittingly tight finish to an electrifying year .
Behind the Numbers—Context and Character
Adaptability vs Aggression
ABD symbolized adaptability. His role was fluid: he could rescue the innings or finish it.
Kohli was the runner—never relenting, always precise, always hungry.
Warner was the bomber—once he got going, watch the scoreboard flood.
Each defined a different path to dominance in limited overs.
Moments That Made the Year
Kohli’s back‑to‑back tons in Australia, and another set against New Zealand.
Warner’s streak of handfuls of hundreds in the final months of the year.
ABD’s contributions in patches, especially when control was paramount.
Notably, ABD never lost the top spot—his buffer from earlier ratings held firm even as challengers toyed with his position.
Recognition from the ICC
Quinton de Kock earned ODI Player of the Year — recognition of his consistency and finishing power behind Warner and Kohli .
Virat Kohli named captain of the ODI Team of the Year, reflecting leadership and run-scoring combined
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The Verdict: Who Was the No. 1 ODI Batsman of 2016?
Strictly by ICC ranking points, the title belongs to AB de Villiers — he retained No. 1 throughout and finished ahead in the final listings .
Yet from a storytelling or emotional vantage, the case could tilt toward Virat Kohli — his average, volume of runs, and leadership made him the defining batsman of 2016 for many eyes.
And let’s not discount David Warner, whose explosive style and sheer volume of ODI runs made him the most feared batsman by the end of the year.
Wrap-Up: Three Titans, One Memorable Year
AB de Villiers ended 2016 as ICC ODI’s World No. 1, a fitting capstone to his decade of excellence.
Virat Kohli emerged as the emotional and statistical narrative of the year — relentless, precise, almost peerless.
David Warner owned the scoreboard with sheer firepower, reaching heights few openers ever have.
2016 was not just a story of runs and rankings — it was a collision of styles. Stability vs passion, elegance vs aggression, and years of consistency vs a blazing year of form.
Key Stats Recap
Player Final ICC ODI Rank (2016) Approx. Rating ODI Runs in 2016 Avg.
AB de Villiers No. 1 ~861‑887 Moderate (consistent control)
Virat Kohli No. 2 ~813–852 ~739 (in ~10 matches) ~92.4
David Warner No. 3 ~786–880 ~1,388 ~63.1
Closing Thoughts: What 2016 Taught Us
The Rankings reflect a consistency, but heartbeats are felt in extraordinary years.
Players shape their legacies in different ways — by longevity (ABD), by ruthless efficiency (Kohli), or by matched aggression (Warner).
ODI cricket in 2016 was richer because it had all three battling at their peaks.
AB de Villiers kept the crown. Yet Virat Kohli and David Warner made sure that every game felt like a final. The clash of these style