The role of an opening batsman in any format is very important. It is their responsibility to provide a platform for the batting side. Some do it in an aggressive style by using the powerplay to their benefit. In today’s article, we will look at the 5 greatest openers in ODI of all time, who have made this position their own by their unique talents.
5) Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag is one of the greatest attacking openers in ODI of all time. With great footwork Sehwag destroyed the bowling attacks all over the world. Only a handful of batsmen have hit the ball harder square on the offside, and fewer have done so as often as Sehwag.
As an opener has scored a total of 7,518 ODI runs with 14 centuries in 212 innings at an astonishing strike rate of 104.72. However, his average of 36.49 is not as high as it could be due to his aggressive batting style.
4) Rohit Sharma
The hitman became a very successful batsman in odi since he became an opener. In 141 innings he batted as an opener, Rohit Sharma has scored 7238 runs at an average of 57.44 with a strike rate of 92.19. Along with 31 fifties, he also has 27 centuries to his name. He also holds the record of highest ever ODI score in an innings when he scored 264 against Sri Lanka.
3) Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist is one of the stylist batsmen of Australia. He played very important knocks for his team which helped Australia win three consecutive world cups. In the 259 innings as an opener, he scored 9,200 runs with the help of 16 hundred and 53 half-centuries. An average of 36.51 was not bad at all for a batsman who strikes the ball at a rate of 98.03. Gilchrist was a true match-winner and a big game player. His 149-run innings in the final of the 2007 world cup is a testament to that.
2) Sanath Jayasuriya
In 383 innings as an opener, Jayasuriya scored a total of 12,740 runs with an average and strike rate of 34.62 and 92.48. respectively. He also has 28 centuries and 66 half-centuries to his name. Sanath Jayasuriya also holds an unwanted record of most ducks in ODI history. But he is also the second oldest to score a hundred in ODI cricket.
1) Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar was the most complete batsman ever. Along with a strong attacking display he was equally capable of a stout defense. As an opener, Sachin batted in 340 innings and scored a massive 15,310 runs at an average of 48.30. He also has a record of 45 centuries along with 70 half-centuries to his name. Moreover, his strike rate of 88.05 was also not bad at all. Moreover, Sachin could score all around the wicket.
