Indian Opening Batsman Who Scored The Most Runs: Whether it’s the iconic pairing of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly or the dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, and even before them, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth, Team India has consistently boasted a formidable opening batsman in each era. These openers have served as the backbone of the Indian cricket team. Today, this crucial role is entrusted to the youthful Shubman Gill, alongside the experienced Rohit Sharma, who is expected to have a promising future ahead. But have you ever wondered who holds the record for the highest number of runs as an opener for Team India? If not, let us reveal it to you.
Indian Opening Batsman Who Scored The Most Runs
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, with over 18,000 runs in his ODI career, originally batted in the middle order before being promoted to open. This transformation unleashed a different side of Sachin Tendulkar that is still etched in cricketing memories. While opening, Sachin Tendulkar amassed an impressive 15,310 runs for Team India.
2. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly, with a career tally of over 11,000 runs, made his mark as an opener, accumulating 9,146 runs in this role. His average as an opener stands at a commendable 41.57, making him the second-highest run-scorer in this position for India.
3. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, who initially played in the middle order, transitioned to opening in 2013. In ODIs, he has accumulated over ten thousand runs overall, with 8,001 runs coming as an opening batsman.
4. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag, known for his explosive style, started as a middle-order batsman before establishing himself as an opening force. He tallied 8,273 runs in his ODI career, with a staggering 7,518 runs while opening.
5. Shikhar Dhawan
Although Shikhar Dhawan is currently not part of Team India and was not selected for the ODI World Cup team, his batting records have been impressive. He has been a dedicated opener since the beginning of his career, accumulating 6,793 runs, demonstrating his ability to surpass the five-thousand-run mark.
Also Read: Most First-Over Wickets in T20 International Cricket