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
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