Fastest runner in cricket: Bringing lightning on the pitch
Speed and agility are generally overlooked skills in cricket, yet sometimes they become crucial in determining the course of the game. In the era where batters dominate with their power-hitting and bowlers steal the show with their high-paced deliveries, running between the wickets is often a highly ignored aspect.
While the Indian cricket maestros like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli are widely celebrated for their running between the wickets, many other greats have mastered this art.
In this blog, we will know some of the cricketers who have displayed brilliant running skills throughout their careers –
Virat Kohli – India
One of the most acknowledged athletes on the globe, Virat Kohli’s top speed reached a whopping 31 km/hr in the Asia Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan. The 36-year-old cricketer has carved a niche for himself with his classy drives and excellent precision on the ground. However, one of the highly unnoticed expertise of Virat is his adeptness in building the innings by doing extremely fast running with the wickets, which puts the opponent under pressure.
The former Indian captain’s remarkable fitness level and healthy diet have been a catalyst in making him the fastest runner between the wickets in modern times. Not just the batting, the Delhi-born cricketer remains highly accelerated in fielding as well. While other dynamos like Rohit Sharma often rely on their power hitting to frame their game, Virat presents a unique combination of skillful batting complemented by sheer pace.
AB De Villiers – South Africa
One of the greatest ever to grace the game, AB de Villiers is one of the highly hailed names in cricket. Acknowledged by Virat himself as the fastest runner he has run with, the former South Africa international boasted a remarkable skill of turning singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
What sets him apart from other cricketers is his mind-boggling awareness of the game and the ability to exploit gaps between the fields. Often called ‘Mr 360 degree’ for his innovative batting style, his running perfectly complemented his batting style. His quick reflexes and resounding agility presented an example of how good running between the wickets could be as noteworthy as hitting boundaries, especially in the peculiar times when each run mattered.
MS Dhoni – India
While mentioning the fastest runners in cricket, it would be a mistake not to mention the former Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. The former Indian cricketer is undoubtedly in a league of his own when it comes to showing thundering pace in between the stumps. His improbable speed and clarity while running were an example of his game awareness.
Even in highly pressured situations during a game, Dhoni’s ability to read the fielder’s movements and execute his run changed the result of the match many times. Though he possessed the capability to hit any particular delivery out of the ground, Dhoni used his running skills as the most crucial weapon in his arsenal. His speed and judgment usually went unnoticed but played a crucial role in many of India’s memorable victories.
Faf Du Plessis – South Africa
Another former Proteas man on the list, Faf du Plessis, is known for providing an explosive start to his team. Though he batted more in powerplays throughout his career, Faf presented the stunning ability to rotate the strikes by stealing quick singles with his rapid sprinting competency.
Not just being a good runner, but the former South African skipper’s mindset of carrying along and motivating his partner to match the levels is what made him a natural leader. His fitness level has been a crucial aspect in helping him maintain the same level of intensity throughout the games, and this is what has established him as a role model for the aspiring generations of cricket.
David Warner – Australia
The Australian cricketing powerhouse David Warner dominated the leather for almost a decade. The left-handed batter was one of the few cricketers who could single-handedly change the tide of a game. However, it can not just be done with the power-hitting for which he is widely known.
Despite being an excellent striker of the ball, Warner always used his impressive running ability to get some quick runs in between, which helped him dominate the minds of his rivals. Despite presenting a highly aggressive approach on the ground, Warner always had a clear and calm eye on exploiting the fielding gaps and exploiting runs in pressure situations.
Conclusion
In the era of short-format cricket, where batters highly rely on muscle hitting to prove their worth, speed and agility are some crucial components that can not be ignored. Moreover, running between the wickets is not just a testament to how fast you can go. It reflects the level of a cricketer’s game awareness, coordination with his partner, as well as his competitive spirit.
