Top 5 Indian ODI opening batsmen of all time

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Matches: 463, Runs: 18426, Highest Score: 200*, Average: 44.83, Centuries: 49

Master Blaster: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

The "Master Blaster", Sachin Tendulkar, is undoubtedly the greatest ODI batsman of all time. He has been the biggest jewel of Indian cricket. A large part of Sachin's success, especially in the shorter format of the game, came at the top of the order, i.e. as an opener.

Although Sachin began his career as a middle-order batsman, he was soon promoted to open the innings, as India was lacking an attacking batsman at the top of the order, in those days. Sachin was quick to grasp his opportunity and made the opener's slot his very own. It was as an ODI opener, that he dominated the world cricket over the next two decades.

With more than 18 thousand runs and 49 hundreds to his name, Tendulkar owns almost all the possible records that a batsman can have in ODI cricket. His hundreds and other match winning innings were instrumental in bringing India many memorable victories.

He has been the poster boy of One Day cricket, and an inspiration for future generation players from all parts of the world. Thus Sachin Tendulkar deserves the number one spot in the list of Indian ODI openers of all time, without any doubt.