Most Runs By Opening Batsmen In ODI Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in ODI cricket. Tendulkar amassed a staggering 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83. He is also the highest run-scorer in ODIs among opening batsmen. Along with Tendulkar, two more Indian batsmen feature in the list of Most Runs By Opening Batsmen in ODI cricket. 

Sachin Tendulkar 

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A 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar made his ODI debut on December 18, 1989, against Pakistan in Gujranwala. He batted at no. 5 in the first few years of his ODI career. It was in 1994, against New Zealand in Auckland, when Tendulkar opened for India accidentally after Navjot Singh Sidhu missed the game due to a stiff neck. In his first knock as an opener, Tendulkar scored a blistering 49-ball 82 with 15 boundaries and two maximums. From there on, Tendulkar went on to become the greatest ODI opener of all-time. 

Before this game against New Zealand, Tendulkar had played ODIs and scored 1758 runs at an average of 30.84. But as an opener, he went on to accumulate 15,310 runs in 340 innings at an average of 48.30. He is not only the highest run-scorer among opening batsmen in ODIs, but also the highest run-scorer in the format's history. Tendulkar finished his prolific ODI career with 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83. He was also the first cricketer to score 200 runs in an ODI.

Sanath Jayasuriya 

Southpaw Sanath Jayasuriya was one of the most destructive openers in the history of ODIs. His aggressive approach at the top of the order redefined the role of an opening batsman in the limited-overs format.

Jayasuriya, along with his partner Romesh Kaluwitharana, popularized the concept of taking the game away from the opposition in the early overs. As an opening batsman in ODIs, Jayasuriya scored 12,740 runs at an average of 383. Overall, he finished his ODI career with 13,430 runs at an average of 32.36. Jayasuriya also holds the record for the highest ODI innings by a Sri Lankan, with his 189 against India at Sharjah in 2000.

Apart from his batting, Jayasuriya was also an effective left-arm spinner. He took over 300 wickets in ODIs. 

Chris Gayle 

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Chris Gayle is widely regarded as one of the most destructive openers in limited-overs cricket history. Gayle's sheer ability to clear boundaries at will made him a nightmare for bowlers. As an opener, he often went after the bowling right from the start, putting immense pressure on the opposition. 

His ability to strike massive sixes, often with minimal footwork but impeccable timing, became his signature. His 215 against Zimbabwe at a strike rate of 146.25 in the 2015 ICC World Cup, which included 16 sixes, remains one of the highest individual scores in World Cup history. In all, Gayle scored 10,179 runs from 274 innings as an opener.

Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist is widely regarded as one of the most explosive batsmen in ODI history. Like Sachin, Gilchrist, too, didn't start out as an opening batsman. Although he made his ODI debut in 1996, it wasn't until 1998 when he started opening in ODIs and the rest is history. 

Despite his flamboyant batting style, Gilchrist was incredibly consistent. He finished his ODI career with 9,619 runs in 287 matches, including 16 centuries and 55 fifties, at an impressive strike rate of over 96. Overall, the wicketkeeper batsman is the fourth-highest run-scorer among ODI openers, with 9,200 runs in 259 matches at a strike rate of 98.  Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden together scored 5,372 runs in 114 matches for the first wicket, which is the second-most runs by opening pairs in history. 

Sourav Ganguly 

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was a brilliant ODI opener, who scored 9,146 runs in 236 innings at the top of the order. He had the ability to find gaps and score freely, especially with his trademark cover drives and off-side play.

Tendulkar and Ganguly formed one of the most iconic and successful opening pairs in the history of ODI cricket. From 1992 to 2007, they opened the batting for India, becoming the backbone of the team’s batting line-up during that era.

Over the course of 176 innings together, they scored a remarkable 8,227 runs - the highest by any opening pair in ODIs. Tendulkar and Ganguly were involved in several memorable stands, including 26 century partnerships, the most by any pair in ODI cricket.

Rohit Sharma 

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Rohit Sharma's transformation from a middle-order batsman to an opener in 2013 was a game-changing moment for both his career and Indian cricket.

Rohit’s batting is characterized by a unique mix of timing, elegance, and power. Unlike many aggressive openers, he often starts slowly, before shifting gears seamlessly and accelerating his scoring with powerful stroke play.

He is the only batsman to score three double centuries in ODIs and his 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 is the highest individual score in ODI history. As an opener, Rohit has scored 8,836 runs from 176 innings. 

Desmond Haynes

Desmond Haynes was one of the most successful opening batsmen in the history of ODI cricket. Playing for the West Indies from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Haynes was known for his technically sound batting, and his partnership with fellow West Indian legend Gordon Greenidge was one of the most formidable in cricket.

Haynes held the record for scoring the most runs in ODIs at one point in his career, until this record was eventually broken by Mohammed Azharuddin. He scored 17 centuries in ODIs, which was a record for the most centuries at the time of his retirement. 

Overall, Hayne scored 8,648 runs from 237 innings as an opener. 

Saeed Anwar 

Saeed Anwar is regarded as one of the finest opening batsmen in ODI cricket. Representing Pakistan from 1989 to 2003, Anwar was a key figure in the team’s success during the late 1990s.

He held the record for the highest individual score in ODIs for many years, having scored 194 runs against India in 1997. He is also Pakistan's highest century maker in ODIs, with 20 of them under his belt. In all, Anwar scored 8,156 runs from 175 matches as an opening batsman. 

Tamim Iqbal 

Next on the list is Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal, who has scored 8,357 runs in 240 innings as an opener, and is the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in the 50-over format. Since his debut in 2007, he has been a cornerstone of the national team. 

In March 2021, Tamim became the first Bangladeshi player to score 50 ODI half-centuries and he is also Bangladesh's highest century maker in international matches across all formats, with 25 centuries.