Top 5 fastest openers to 5000 ODI runs

In cricket, the start of every team depends on how well their openers do. Openers not only allow the team to score massive totals but also to chase down huge totals. One of the important duties of the opener is to build a strong foundation for the team on which the middle order can capitalize. Sometimes it all depends on the openers as they can release the pressure off the middle-order and lead the team to victory. Teams that have dependable openers are the blessed ones.

Few cricket teams have been lucky to have trustworthy openers in their side who have won lots of matches for them.

Here are the 5 fastest openers to complete 5000 ODI runs.

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#5 Sourav Ganguly (India)

Innings- 123

Dada is the third fastest Indian opener to 5000 ODI runs

Surprisingly out of the five fastest openers to complete 5000 ODI runs three are Indians and Sourav Ganguly is the third fastest opener for India and 5th worldwide to reach 5000 runs in ODIs. It took him 123 innings for completing 5000 runs in ODIs as an opener.

Sourav Ganguly who is popularly known as Dada holds a special place in the history of Indian cricket. The 46-year-old Calcutta born who has already retired from cricket played his first ODI match in 1992 against Windies. He was one of the first Indian openers to complete 5000 ODI runs. Dada represented India in 311 matches and made 11363 runs with an amazing average of 40.73.

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#4 Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)

Innings- 121

The only Sri Lankan who makes it to the list of top 5 fastest openers to 5000 runs in ODIs, Dilshan took 121 innings to reach this mark. He responsibly took the role of the opener for Sri Lanka after the retirement of left-hander Sanath Jayasuriya.

Dilshan was a brilliant counter-attacker and had the ability to go for big hits from the very first over of the innings. Once he fixed his spot as an opener in the Sri Lankan team he was given the license to play his own game i.e. aggressive. After Sanath Jayasuriya, he was the best opener for Sri Lanka.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Innings- 111

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar the God of cricket

Sachin Tendulkar who is recognized as the God of cricket and is nicknamed Master Blaster, is the third fastest opener to complete 5000 ODI runs. Sachin reached the mark in 119 innings. This is just another record for the record-machine Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin has been in the spotlight even before he made his international debut and had conducted himself in flawless fashion. He was a 16-year kid when he made his debut against Pakistan and it made a lot of news as he faced Waqar Younis, Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.

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#2 Rohit Sharma (India)

Innings- 102

The only batsman to hit three double centuries in ODIs

Rohit Sharma joined the list after cracking an unbeaten 111 against Pakistan in 2018 Asia Cup on 23rd September at Dubai International Stadium. He is the fastest Indian opener to reach the 5000 ODI run-mark and second fastest in the world. It took him 102 innings to complete 5000 ODI runs as an opener which is just two innings more than the fastest opener to reach the mark.

Rohit Sharma is the only batsman in the world to score three double centuries in ODIs. He is currently the most trustworthy opener India have in both limited overs format. Rohit Sharma also completed his 7000 combined runs in the same match in which he reached this mark. He along with Dhawan are the backbone for India as it is the foundation made by them on which the middle-order capitalise.

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#1 Hashim Amla (South Africa)

Innings- 100

Although Amla's career kickstarted very late, he took no time to catch up. He has been breaking many records for the past five years. And one such record is of completing 5000 ODI runs as an opener. He completed 5000 ODI runs as an opener in just 100 innings which is the fastest in the history of ODI cricket.

Despite his magnificent record in Tests, Amla was always thought to be unsuitable for ODIs, but he proved that wrong by making two centuries when the Proteas toured the West Indies in 2010 for a five-match ODI series. That performance ensured him a permanent place in the South African ODI squad.