Cricket in Numbers: Find Out the Top Run-Scorers vs Australia in a Single ODI Series

The three-match ODI series will keep fans on the edge of their seats, as all eyes will be on RoKo. But before the series starts, it should be noted that a few players have been able to dominate Australia pretty well with the bat. Let’s take a look at the top run scorers against Australia in a single ODI series.

Rohit Sharma (2013)

Rohit Sharma tops the chart for scoring the most runs against Australia in a single ODI series. The Hitman made it possible in 2013, when Australia visited India. It was a seven-match ODI series, among the longest both of them had had over the past few years.

Match	Runs	Result
1st ODI	42	Australia Won by 72 Runs
2nd ODI	141*	India Won by 9 Wickets
3rd ODI	11	Australia Won by 4 Wickets
4th ODI	9*	No Result
5th ODI	–	Match Abandoned
6th ODI	79	India Won by 6 Wickets
7th ODI	209	India Won by 57 Runs

Rohit Sharma took the role of an opener by this time and showcased his dominance. In the first ODI, he ended up scoring 42 runs off 47 balls when India was chasing above 300. The second ODI, which was played in Jaipur, remains the best for Indian fans.

Australia ended up scoring 359 runs. But to the chase, Rohit Sharma scored 141* along with Kohli, smashing a ton, which helped India chase the total. The Hitman was not able to continue this momentum in the third ODI. He went on to be dismissed cheaply for just 11 runs in the game.

The 4th ODI was not able to be finished, with the match being interrupted by rain and eventually called off. This also remained the scenario for the 5th ODI. In the sixth ODI, Rohit Sharma returned to his form once again. While chasing 351, he scored 79 runs off 89 balls, even having a 178-run opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan.

India ended up winning the 6th match, and it was down to the last game. Rohit Sharma brought his daddy hundreds back in this game, as he scored 209 runs to help India reach a massive total. In the end, India was able to win the match by 57 runs and eventually win the series.

Rohit Sharma (2016)

In 2016, India had a tour of Australia, which included a five-match ODI series. Rohit Sharma continued his form against Australia even in this series, which helped him score 441 runs. This puts Rohit in the second spot, just behind the record that he created.

Match	Runs	Result
1st ODI	171	Australia Won by 5 Wickets
2nd ODI	124	Australia Won by 7 Wickets
3rd ODI	6	Australia Won by 3 Wickets
4th ODI	41	Australia Won by 25 Runs
5th ODI	99	India Won by 6 Wickets

Rohit Sharma started well against the Aussies in the first ODI itself. He scored 171 runs and remained not out in the game. Still, India went on to lose the same by 5 wickets. The Hitman scored another century in the second ODI, but this time again India lost the game by 7 wickets.

The third ODI didn’t go as expected for Rohit, as he got out cheaply for just 6 runs. India also lost this game by 3 wickets, losing out on the series. But he went down to play aggressively in the fourth ODI match. Scoring 41 runs off just 24 balls, Rohit gave a positive start to the team.

But the result didn’t come out in favour, as India lost by 25 runs. In the last ODI, Rohit Sharma played a vital role in the chase for India. He ended up scoring 99 runs, missing out on his century. However, India was able to finish the series with a win.

Virat Kohli (2016)

The year 2016 belonged to Virat Kohli, as he smashed runs in every format of the game. This also continued when India visited Australia, and Kohli was a part of the team. In the five-match ODI series, Virat Kohli ended up scoring 381 runs, etching his name in this list.

Match	Runs	Result
1st ODI	91	Australia Won by 5 Wickets
2nd ODI	59	Australia Won by 7 Wickets
3rd ODI	117	Australia Won by 3 Wickets
4th ODI	126	Australia Won by 25 Runs
5th ODI	8	India Won by 6 Wickets

He started well for the team by scoring 91 runs off 97 balls in the first ODI match. This helped India to score 309 runs, but the target was chased down by Australia with 5 wickets remaining. Virat smashed another half-century in the second ODI, as he scored 59 runs. It would have been a big score, but he got run out due to a wrong call.

India lost this game again, with Australia chasing down the total. But Virat Kohli took command of the team’s batting line-up in the third ODI. He scored 117 runs at a strike rate of 100 in this game. Still, Australia was able to chase down the total with 3 wickets remaining.

After a century in the third ODI, he went on to continue the form even in the fourth game of the series. Virat scored 126 runs off just 92 balls, dominating the Australian bowlers in this game. In the final match, he got out for just 8 runs, still being able to end the series among the highest run scorers.

Hansie Cronje (1994)

Before Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, it was Hansie Cronje who ruled against the Australian team. During the 1994 series between Australia and South Africa, he made an entry to this list that remained for decades. Cronje scored 380 runs for the team in 8 matches.

Match	Runs	Result
1st ODI	112	South Africa Won by 5 Runs
2nd ODI	97	South Africa Won by 56 Runs
3rd ODI	45	Australia Won by 88 Runs
4th ODI	50	South Africa Won by 7 Wickets
5th ODI	10	Australia Won by 7 Wickets
6th ODI	11	South Africa Won by 26 Runs
7th ODI	37	Australia Won by 36 Runs
8th ODI	18	Australia Won by 1 Run

He started by scoring 112 runs in the first ODI, and eventually, South Africa won the game by 5 runs. Cronje continued his dominant form even in the second game, scoring 97 runs off 101 balls. Although he missed out on a ton, South Africa won the game by 56 runs.

Cronje tried his best to help South Africa win the third match of the series. But he ended up scoring 45 runs, as Australia won the game by 88 runs. In the fourth ODI, he went on to finish the short chase and scored 50 runs off 78 balls.

However, the form of Hansie Cronje dropped from the 5th game. He scored just 10 runs as South Africa lost the game by 7 wickets. This form continued for him in the 6th ODI, as he was able to score just 11 runs. Still, South Africa ended up winning this game by 26 runs.

He went on to regain his form in the 7th ODI, scoring 37 runs. Still, South Africa lost this game by 36 runs. In the last ODI, he scored just 18 runs, ending the series on a low note. The initial four games for Cronje were good enough to help him get to the record list.

Jonathan Trott (2011)

Jonathan Trott, the former English batsman, also holds his name in the list of batsmen with the most runs in a single ODI series against Australia. During the 2011 ODI series, Trott was able to score 375 runs against Australia, dominating them on their own turf.

Match	Runs	Result
1st ODI	6	Australia Won by 6 Wickets
2nd ODI	32	Australia Won by 46 Runs
3rd ODI	84	Australia Won by 4 Wickets
4th ODI	102	England Won by 21 Runs
5th ODI	0	Australia Won by 51 Runs
6th ODI	137	Australia Won by 2 Wickets
7th ODI	11	Australia Won by 57 Runs

The start of the series was not good for Jonathan Trott, as he scored just 6 runs in the first game. England eventually lost by 6 wickets. In the second ODI, Trott remained among the sole warriors for the team in the chase. Still, he got out after scoring 32, as England lost the game by 46 runs.

Jonathan Trott brought his first good score in the third game of the series. He scored 84 runs for the team, but Australia chased the target with 4 wickets remaining. England was finally able to secure a win in the fourth ODI. Trott received the POTM award, scoring 102 runs and even took 4 wickets.

After scoring a century in the 4th game, he went out for a Golden Duck in the 5th match of the series. Still, Jonathan Trott decided to make a comeback in the 6th game. Thus, he ended up scoring 137 runs and got another POTM award. England still lost this game by 2 wickets.

In the last game of the series, Trott scored just 11 runs, ending the series on a low note. At this time, he finished closest to Hansie Cronje, being just 5 runs behind him in this record.