5 Indian batsmen with most runs while opening the batting in ODIs

Opening the batting is a very challenging task in ODI cricket. The batsman has to survive the new ball, blend caution with aggression to provide a solid foundation for his side, and hit out when needed.

Over the years, Indian batsmen have captivated the cricketing world with some powerhouse performances at the top of the order. Sachin Tendulkar’s blistering 143 against Australia at Sharjah in 1998 will be remembered with fondness by all Indian fans, as the master combined elegant flair and ruthless aggression to rip apart the Australian attack.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s stunning 264 at the top of the order against Sri Lanka remains the highest individual score recorded by a batsman in ODI cricket.

In this article, let us look at five Indian batsmen who have scored the most runs as ODI openers.

#5 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has scored 5480 runs as an opener for India in ODIs

At No. 5 comes the dynamic left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan has opened 129 times for India in ODI cricket and scored 5518 runs at an average of 44.92. His ability to whip the ball past mid-wicket with élan or send the ball screaming past cover makes him a treat to watch.

Rohit Sharma and Dhawan have already amassed 4681 runs in ODIs together, and are the second most successful Indian opening pair after the legendary duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

Record as opener: Innings - 131; Runs - 5518; Average - 44.50; 50s - 27; 100s - 17

Also see – World Test Championship points table

#4 Rohit Sharma

Watching Rohit Sharma bat is like watching a stream in full flow. His ability to time the ball with ease and hit towering sixes at will makes him a nightmare for the opposition.

Rohit has opened 130 times for India in ODI cricket and scored 6719 runs at an incredible average of 57.43. Also, 25 of his 27 hundreds have come while opening the batting.

Rohit is the only batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score three double hundreds.

Record as opener: Innings - 132; Runs - 6719; Average - 57.43; 50s - 30; 100s - 25

#3 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag will probably go down as the most destructive opener produced by India in ODI cricket. Sehwag’s mantra in ODI cricket was simple: if the ball was there to be hit, then he would send it crashing to the boundary.

Sehwag opened the batting for India 212 times and scored 7518 runs at an average of 36.50.

The Sehwag-Tendulkar combination at the top of the order sent shivers down the spines of the opposition. The aesthetic stroke-play of Tendulkar, contrasted by the audacious shot-making of Sehwag, made them a joy to watch.

Record as opener: Innings - 212; Runs - 7518; Average - 36.50; 50s - 35; 100s - 14

#2 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Gangly has been one of the greatest left handers produced by India in ODI cricket. ‘The Prince of Calcutta’ opened the batting for India 236 times in ODIs and scored 9146 runs at an average of 41.57.

Ganguly’s flowing cover drives through the off side, and his ability to hit towering sixes over mid-wicket, will be etched in the minds of cricket fans for a long time. Ganguly and Tendulkar are India's most successful opening pair; they amassed 6619 runs together at the top of the order.

Record as opener: Innings - 236; Runs - 9146; Average - 41.57; 50s - 58; 100s - 19

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

At the top of the list comes the ‘God of Cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar. Hailed as the most complete batsman of all time, Tendulkar holds just about every single batting record in ODI cricket, including that for the most runs (18,426), most hundreds (49) and most fifties (96).

The ‘Little Master’ opened the batting for India 340 times and scored a whopping 15310 runs at an average of 48.30. To put this gargantuan record in some perspective, Tendulkar’s aggregate as an opener is higher than the entire career aggregate of the second highest run-scorer of all time in ODI cricket, Kumar Sangakkara (14234 runs).

Tendulkar’s ability to play the straight drive with minimum fuss made him a joy to watch. And his ability to whip the ball between mid-wicket and square leg with the precision of a surgeon made the bowlers scratch their heads in sheer disbelief.

Record as opener: Innings - 340; Runs - 15310; Average - 48.30; 50s - 75; 100s - 45