Top 5 best openers in the history of T20 cricket

The role of the opening batsman in Test cricket is different from that in limited overs cricket. The limited overs openers are expected to give their respective teams a flying start, with field restrictions to assist their case at the start. T20 cricket also does not give time for the batsmen to settle down. In T20, it is expected that the batsmen start hitting from the first ball and keep on finding the boundaries.

The openers by so doing play a vital role in shaping the innings of T20 cricket. They play the first six crucial power-play overs, so the way they play sets a tone for the rest of the innings.

The responsibility is on them to set a platform for their team, either with aggressive stroke-making or by digging in and hitting a big score. All successful T20 teams in the world have world-class openers, and we have seen IPL franchises paying heavily for quality openers in the IPL auction.

T20 cricket has produced some exceptional openers over the years. Let's take a look at all-time best openers of T20 cricket:

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#1 Virender Sehwag (India)

Virender Sehwag played for Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.

Virender Sehwag is one of the most destructive openers in any format of the game. He has constructed an extraordinary career with a relentless quest, and a genius, for boundary hitting. With minimal footwork, but maximum intent, Sehwag can be regarded as one of the best openers of T20 cricket.

The most remarkable aspect of Sehwag's career, of course has been his ability to build massive scores at breathtaking speed. In 104 IPL matches, Sehwag had a decent average of 27.56 runs, firing at a strike-rate of above 155.

He did not play much international T20 cricket with only 19 games to his name. In the 19 games, he managed to strike the ball at a strike-rate of above 145.

The ability to understand the condition of play has made Sehwag was one of the most valuable assets of any T20 team.

#2 Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum retired from T20I in 2015.

Brash, brutal and brilliant to watch, Brendon McCullum can bruise bowling attacks like few others in international cricket. His aggressive attitude from the first ball, makes him an ideal T20 opener.

T20 cricket expects the openers to hit boundaries at every ball, and McCullum does exactly the same. He muscles balls over both sides of the field and was responsible for getting the IPL off to an electrifying start, lighting up the tournament's first match with 158 and showing what the format had to offer. He also became the second man, after Chris Gayle, to score a Twenty20 international century.

Mccullum is fifth on the list for most runs in T20I history. He has scored 2,140 runs in 71 matches at an average of 35.66. His strikes the ball at 136.21. His phenomenal T20I career consisted of two centuries and 13 half-centuries with a highest score of 123.

#3 David Warner (Australia)

David Warner leads Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.

The role of an opener is actually to score quick, even though few, runs. David Warner has redefined the opener's role in the team. One of the most destructive hitters in world cricket, Warner opens for Australia in all three formats.

David Warner provides the quick runs as expected by an opener, but along with that, he also plays the role of a match winner. David Warner has an average of 26.75 and strike-rate of 140.11 in 70 T20Is. His IPL stats read at an average of 40.55 with a strike-rate of 142.14 in 114 matches.

Punishing the poor deliveries and taking sensible risks is his attribute. He likes to remain at the crease until he watches his team win. David Warner is the biggest reason for the success of SunRisers Hyderabad over the years. He won the Orange Cup for scoring the highest number of runs in the IPL in 2015 (562 runs in 14 matches).

No matter which team you support, David Warner is always a pleasure to watch.

#4 Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli is the captain of India Cricket Team and also captains RCB in the IPL.

Another Indian who makes it on the list is Virat Kohli. Kohli has opened the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore at times, but has not done so for India frequently; although he can do that in the future. Virat Kohli is not an opener one should look at for quick runs, his wicket is much valuable than that.

Virat Kohli is third on the list of most runs in T20Is (2263 runs in 67 matches). He plays at an unbelievable average of 50.28 in T20Is. He has scored 20 half-centuries in his T20I career, which is the highest for any batsman.

He is someone who can stay in the middle for the full 20 overs. What makes him a good T20 player is his ability to rotate the strike which allows the other batsman to play enough balls time to time and avoids building pressure.

In IPL 2016, he won the Orange Cap for the highest number of runs (973 runs in 16 matches) and also the award for hitting maximum sixes (38 sixes).

If he opens with a brutal opener, the opening partnership will be enough to win the match.

#5 Chris Gayle (West Indies)

Chris Gayle scored 175* off 66 deliveries.

Last but not the least on the list is Christopher Henry Gayle. The Caribbean opener has fans all around the globe. With his exceptional power hitting ability, Gayle can stand and deliver the ball into the stands.

His score of 175* in 66 balls in the IPL is almost beyond imagination. He is arguably the most brutal opener of all time.

Chris Gayle has a stunning IPL record, with a strike rate of above 150 and an average of 41.18 in 112 matches. He has managed to win the Orange Cap for two consecutive years in the IPL (2011 and 2012) and has won the award for maximum sixes, three consecutive times in IPL (2011, 2012 and 2013). He won the maximum sixes award for the fourth time in 2015.

Gayle takes his time at the start of the innings and then switches to his power hitting mode later in the innings. Gayle currently plays for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.

All the stats in this article are updated up to 7th March 2019.