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

#4 Rohit Sharma

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

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