Top 10 Openers Of World Cricket: Current captain of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma, currently ranks at the top of the list of the world’s best openers in cricket. And not only at the present time but also walking shoulder to shoulder with great batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar in the list of all-time best openers.
Whenever the discussion about the top openers in the cricketing world arises, the names of players like Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar come first. However, besides Hitman and Master Blaster, there are many other openers in world cricket who are included in this top 10 list. So let’s quickly delve into knowing about the top 10 best openers in the world without wasting much time.
List of 10 best openers in the world
#1 Sanath Jayasuriya
The record for scoring the most runs in the role of opener in World Cricket belongs to the former stalwart batsman of the Sri Lankan cricket team, Sanath Jayasuriya, who has amassed a total of 19,298 runs while opening. He achieved this feat in 563 innings across 506 matches. During this period, he has also showcased 41 centuries and 95 half-centuries with his bat, which is truly commendable. In addition, he has scored 21,032 runs in international cricket overall, including 42 centuries and 103 half-centuries.
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#2 Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle, counted among the most explosive opening batsmen of the West Indies cricket team, ranks second in terms of scoring the most runs. Gayle has accumulated a total of 18,867 runs while opening in 506 innings across 441 matches. During this period, he has struck 42 centuries and 102 half-centuries. Additionally, he has scored 19,593 runs overall in international cricket, including 42 centuries and 105 half-centuries.
#3 David Warner
37-year-old left-handed batsman David Warner of the Australian cricket team ranks third in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. However, among active players at present, he holds the top position in this regard. He has accumulated a total of 18,534 runs in 454 innings across 366 matches, including 49 centuries and 95 half-centuries. Additionally, he has scored 18,785 runs overall in international cricket. During this period, he has also recorded 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries.
#4 Graeme Smith
Former captain and opening batsman of the South African cricket team, Graeme Smith, has scored 16,950 runs while opening in 421 innings across 342 matches. He holds the fourth position in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. During this period, he has hit 37 centuries and 88 half-centuries. Additionally, he has scored a total of 17,236 runs in international cricket, including 37 centuries and 90 half-centuries.
#5 Desmond Haynes
Desmond Haynes, regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in West Indies cricket history, ranks fifth in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. He has scored 16,120 runs while opening in 438 innings across 354 matches. During this period, he has struck 35 centuries and 96 half-centuries with his bat. Additionally, he has scored a total of 16,135 runs in international cricket, including 35 centuries and 96 half-centuries.
#6 Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag, counted among the most fearless opening batsmen in Indian cricket, ranks sixth in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. He has scored 16,119 runs while opening in 400 innings across 332 matches. During this period, he has hit 36 centuries and 67 half-centuries with his bat. Alongside, in his international career, he has amassed 17,253 runs with 38 centuries and 72 half-centuries.
#7 Sachin Tendulkar
The world’s most successful batsman in cricket, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, has scored 15,335 runs while opening in 342 innings across 346 matches. Additionally, he holds the seventh position in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. Furthermore, in his international career, he has accumulated 34,357 runs with 100 centuries and 164 half-centuries, which is more than any other batsman in world cricket.
#8 Tamim Iqbal
Former captain and the greatest batsman of the Bangladesh cricket team, Tamim Iqbal, ranks eighth in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. He has scored 15,210 runs while opening in 451 innings across 391 matches. During this period, he has hit 25 centuries and 94 half-centuries with his bat. Additionally, in his overall international cricket career, he has amassed 15,249 runs with 25 centuries and 94 half-centuries, making him the record holder for the most runs by any Bangladeshi batsman in international cricket.
#9 Alastair Cook
Former captain and one of the greatest batsmen of the England cricket team, Alastair Cook, ranks ninth in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener. He has scored 15,110 runs while opening in 374 innings across 250 matches. During this period, he has recorded 36 centuries and 74 half-centuries. Moreover, in his international career, he has amassed 15,737 runs with 38 centuries and 76 half-centuries.
#10 Matthew Hayden
In terms of scoring the most runs as an opener, Matthew Hayden holds the tenth position. He has scored 14,825 runs while opening in 340 innings across 260 matches, including 40 centuries and 66 half-centuries. Additionally, in his international career, he has amassed 15,066 runs with 40 centuries and 69 half-centuries.
Rohit Sharma Record as Opener
It should be noted that Rohit Sharma has not yet made it to the top 10 list of highest run-scorers as an opener, but the manner in which he is currently batting, he will soon surpass Matthew Hayden to reach the tenth position. With a little more time playing, he could even reach the top 5.
Besides, to enter the list of all-time top 10 best openers, he only needs 261 runs. So far, Rohit Sharma has scored 14,564 runs while opening in 340 innings across 322 matches, including 42 centuries and 72 half-centuries. Moreover, in his overall international cricket career, he has scored 18,660 runs with 47 centuries and 100 half-centuries. Currently among active players, he holds the second position in terms of scoring the most runs as an opener, after David Warner.
(All stats updated till – 19-02-2024)
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[…] best teams, and the responsibility of leading this team rests on the shoulders of Captain Rohit Sharma, who was declared India’s full-time captain by the BCCI in the year 2022. Before that, the […]