Rohit Sharma achieves new milestone as he surpasses Great Sachin Tendulkar for most runs; Only behind this veteran Indian opener
In the recent ongoing India vs England ODI series, veteran Indian batter and legendary opener Rohit Sharma stormed back to form with a commanding hundred at Cuttack. Rohit Sharma was at his explosive best when he scored 119 runs in just 90 balls, striking at above 130 with 7 humongous sixes hit all around the park.
With Rohit seemingly back in form, he scored his 32nd ODI hundred, the third most by any batter in the format. Rohit is also just 13 runs away from completing 11000 ODI runs and, in the process, has achieved several other great milestones as well. Rohit Sharma now has the second-most runs for India as an opener.
Rohit Sharma, with his hundred, went past the great Sachin Tendulkar as an Indian batter with the most runs scored as an opener. However, he is only behind the veteran Indian opener Virender Sehwag, and scoring 355 runs will help Rohit climb up the top spot, with the third ODI and the Champions Trophy yet to provide several opportunities for the Indian skipper.
Here’s a list of the top five highest run-getters for India as opener:
1: Virender Sehwag (15,758 runs)
Virender Sehwag has the most runs as an Indian opener (Image Credit: Cricbuzz.com)
One of the most attacking batters of Indian cricket, Virender Sehwag was a game-changer with his exceptional hand-eye coordination, fearlessness, and attacking mindset, which redefined the role of an opener as he dominated the best bowlers across all conditions.
From 321 matches, Virender Sehwag managed to score a total of 15,758 runs as an opener, thus averaging 40.33.
2: Rohit Sharma (15,404 runs)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is a blend of elegance and power, with effortless timing that makes him one of the most aesthetically pleasing batsmen. His ability to accelerate after settling in is unmatched, often converting starts into mammoth scores, including multiple double centuries in ODIs.
From 343 matches, Rohit Sharma managed to score a total of 15,404 runs as an opener with an average of 45.09 and has hit most sixes for India under all conditions across all formats.
3: Sachin Tendulkar (15,335 runs)
The god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, was everything we use to describe batters over the generations, thus making him one of the greatest openers in cricket history. He was a master of handling pressure, and with a vast array of strokes, Tendulkar could adapt to any pitch, condition, or opposition.
From 346 matches, Sachin Tendulkar managed to score a total of 15,335 runs as an opener with an average of 43.07.
4: Sunil Gavaskar (12,258 runs)
Sunil Gavaskar was the first batter to score 10K international runs (Image Credit: Crictoday)
India’s first ‘Little Master’, Sunil Gavaskar, is often regarded as the greatest among world batters, as he was the first batter in the history of international cricket to score 10,000 runs in a single format. His ability to handle the best fast bowlers of his era, including the fearsome West Indian pacers, showcased his bravery and skill on the field.
From 202 matches, Sunil Gavaskar managed to score a total of 12,258 runs as an opener with an average of 62.64.
5: Shikhar Dhawan (10,867 runs)
Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan played most of his white-ball cricket alongside veteran batter Rohit Sharma. Dhawan could have been easily said to be Mr. Reliable, as he could thrive under pressure, particularly in ICC tournaments, where he has a scintillating record.
From 268 matches, Shikhar Dhawan managed to score a total of 10,867 runs as an opener with an average of 36.12.
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