Milind Kumar Sets New ODI Average Record for USA in World Cup League 2

Milind Kumar Achieves Historic ODI Average

New Delhi, November 3: USA cricketer Milind Kumar has made headlines by achieving the highest ODI batting average, finishing at an impressive 67.73 following his century against the UAE in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 on Monday.

Kumar's remarkable performance has allowed him to surpass the previous record held by Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands, who had an average of 67.00 from 1,541 runs. Kumar's average now stands at 67.73 after 22 matches, with a total of 1,016 runs and a personal best of 155 not out, according to Wisden.

The USA team bounced back from an early setback of 28/3 to finish with a formidable score of 292/3, thanks to the outstanding contributions from Milind Kumar (137* off 149 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes) and Saiteja Mukkamalla (123* off 125 balls, featuring 11 fours and one six).

Both Kumar and Mukkamalla have now joined USA captain Monank Patel in achieving three ODI centuries. Kumar reached this milestone in just 21 innings, making it the fastest for any USA player, while Mukkamalla took 36 innings and Monank 48 innings to reach the same mark.

The duo's unbroken partnership of 264 runs for the fourth wicket is now the second-highest in ODI history, surpassing the previous record of 260 runs set by Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan against South Africa. They trail only behind the legendary partnership of 275 runs between Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja for India against Zimbabwe in 1998.

In response, the UAE team was dismissed for a mere 49 runs, with Rushil Ugarkar claiming 5 wickets for just 22 runs, marking the fifth-best ODI bowling figures by a USA player. The USA's victory margin of 243 runs is now their largest win while batting first, eclipsing their previous record of 169 runs against Canada in May.