India's top 5 run-getters as openers in International cricket — Ranked by all-format runs

India have always had the privilege of some incredible openers in almost every era of international cricket, and it’s set to continue in the future too. From the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag’s aggressive approach in the 50-over format in the past, the blue brigade has shifted to many opening combinations. 

In the golden era of the Indian side in the 50-over format, they relied heavily on Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, who broke numerous records for the two-time champions. When it comes to the longest format, Murli Vijay has done a tremendous job with Dhawan while they have shifted to the new generation of players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Lokesh Rahul.

Rohit and Dhawan are equally good in this position for the T20I cricket. It’s never easy to be an opener in any format of the game. They always need to shoulder the responsibility of smashing the big shots and offering a strong platform to the middle order in the 50-over and 20-over games.

In the 90s, the Test openers used to leave as many balls as they could to make it old and create comfort for the upcoming batters. However, the mindset changed with the arrival of Sehwag, who used to smash the bowlers from the very first session of a Test match and get the runs to put the pressure back on the opposition side. After Sehwag’s retirement, Dhawan, and currently Jaiswal, have taken the same route.

Who holds the record? India's highest run-scorer as an opener might surprise you

Some of the opening batters have enjoyed playing in the powerplay as they can go after the bowlers with only two fielders being outside the 30-yard circle in the ODIs and the T20Is. It’s an added advantage. Here are the top five players with the most runs as an opener for the Indian side in international cricket (across the three formats of ODIs, T20Is, and Tests)-

#5 Shikhar Dhawan- 10867 runs as an opener across formats for India-

Shikhar Dhawan is the fifth leading run-getter as an opener for the Indian side in international cricket. The left-handed batter has smashed 10867 runs in 288 innings at an average of nearly 40, thanks to 24 centuries and 55 half-centuries at the best score of 190 runs. Overall, he has got 11 ducks across the three formats.

Dhawan has been decent in the longest format of the game for the blue brigade. The southpaw is the ninth leading run-scorer at the opening position for the national side with 2315 runs in 58 innings at an average of 40.61, thanks to seven centuries and five fifties at the best score of 190 runs, which came on his debut against Australia. 

The Delhi-born is also the fifth-highest run-getter as the opening batter for the Indian side in the 50-over format. He nailed 6793 runs in 164 innings at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35, thanks to 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries at the best score of 143 runs.

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In the same qualification, Dhawan is India’s third leading run-getter in the shortest format, having clubbed 1759 runs in 66 innings at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36, with the help of 11 fifties at the best score of 92 runs.

Shikhar Dhawan’s record across formats as opener for India-

#4 Sunil Gavaskar- 12258 runs as an opener across formats for India-

In the 90s, there was one batter India used to depend on a lot in the longest format. Sunil Gavaksar. He was one of the greatest opening batters of all time, certainly the most successful. His game was built around the perfect technique and powers of concentration, both of which were important in an era of no helmets and no limitation of bouncers.

It's hard to visualize a more beautiful defense, which is virtually unbreachable, as it made his wicket among the hardest to earn. He played with power both in the front and back foot with the phenomenal judgement of the length and line.

Gavaskar has been India’s fourth leading run-getter as the opener in international cricket. He has smashed 12258 runs in 286 innings at an average of 46.08, having bagged 34 centuries and 67 half-centuries at the best score of 221 runs against the West Indies side.

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Specifically, in the longest format, the Mumbai batter nailed 9607 runs, remaining India’s highest run-getter at the opening position. He averaged 50.29 with 33 centuries and 42 half-centuries at the best score of 221.

The right-handed batter didn’t get the same success, though, in the ODIs with 2651 runs in 83 innings at an average of 35.34. His lone century was turned into 103* along with 25 half-centuries. And there were no T20Is in that era.

Sunil Gavaskar’s record across formats as opener for India-

#3 Sachin Tendulkar- 15335 runs as opener across formats for India-

Is there any record in the world that Sachin Tendulkar hasn’t achieved in the batting department? No matter which record is being highlighted, Tendulkar always finds himself among the top batters. He didn’t start his career as a prolific opener, but once he moved to the position, the records started to come one after another.

Sachin is India’s third leading run-getter for the Indian side in international cricket. The right-handed batter has smashed 15335 runs in 342 innings across the three formats at an average of 48.07. He has celebrated 45 centuries and 75 half-centuries in this order. It’s the joint-most centuries across formats for India.

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Tendulkar opened the batting in the longest format only once and returned with 15 runs in 2004. He mostly batted in the middle order of the blue brigade.

In the 50-over format, Tendulkar started as the opening batter in the early 2000s and ended in the position even after nearly 13 years. He is by far the most successful player as the opener in ODIs with 15310 runs in 340 innings at an average of 48.29 and a strike rate of 88.04, thanks to 45 centuries and 75 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 200 in Gwalior against the South Africa side. 

Sachin Tendulkar’s record across formats as opener for India-

#2 Virender Sehwag- 15758 runs across formats for India as opener- 

If there is one player who changed the perception of openers across the formats of the game for the Indian side, then it’s Virender Sehwag. He used to play some fancy upper cuts and other shots around the park without any fear, which showed a different way to the opening batters.

He has been India’s second leading run-getter across formats as the opener, having smacked 15758 runs in 388 innings at a fine average of 41.90, with the help of 36 centuries and 65 half-centuries at the best score of 319 runs.

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In the Tests, irrespective of the conditions, he used to play with an aggressive approach, even against the new ball. He finished as India’s second leading run-getter in the red-ball format with 8124 runs in 168 innings at an average of more than 50, which was a fabulous record, thanks to 22 centuries and 29 half-centuries at the best score of 319.

In terms of the ODI format, Sehwag used to start the game with the boundary on the very first ball of an innings. He drilled 7240 runs in 202 innings of the 50-over cricket with 14 centuries and 34 fifties, at an average of 36.93.

The Delhi-born was part of just 18 innings in the shortest format with 394 runs at a strike rate of more than 145, with two fifties at the best score of 68 runs.

Virender Sehwag’s record across formats as opener for India-

#1 Rohit Sharma- 15994 runs as opener across formats for India 

Rohit Sharma was in the middle order of the Indian side when he made his debut in the 20-over and 50-over games. It was the same case when he played his maiden Test against the West Indies in Kolkata in 2013. But once he made his way into the opening position during the 2013 Champions Trophy, his career took an aggressive turn.

Rohit is India’s leading run-getter across formats as the opener. He has smashed 15994 runs in 383 innings at an average of 45.30, having collected 45 centuries and 83 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs, which came in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.

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In the longest format, the Mumbai batter has drilled 2697 runs in 66 innings at an average of 42.80 with nine centuries and eight fifties at the best score of 212 against South Africa. In the ODIs, he has scored 9547 runs in 193 innings at an average of 54.55, with 31 centuries and 48 fifties.

In the shortest format, the Nagpur-born finished as India’s leading run-scorer with 3750 runs in 124 innings at an average of 32.60 and a strike rate of 143.02, thanks to five centuries and 27 fifties at the best score of unbeaten 121 runs.

Rohit Sharma’s record as opener across formats for India-

Top 5 run-getters for India as opener in International cricket- FAQs