Top 10 Best opening batsmen in ODI cricket
Top 10 Best opening batsmen in ODI cricket
Opening batsmen carry a huge responsibility in any team’s fate. Whether chasing a total or setting up a target, these are the openers who lay down the basics on which a side can build up the victory fortress. Rich in talent, best opening batsmen in cricket usually take smartly the burden of responsibilities put on them by their respective sides. However in case they fail to kick off properly the whole team gets instable rewriting their plans to get the situation controlled. The cricket world is currently jammed with some of the best opening batsmen. With a great number of them enjoying a permanent place in all three formats of the game, a few best opening batsmen are meant to be for only limited overs game. Take for example Hashim Amla, the player with the highest ODI batting average in world only behind AB de Villiers usually does not go for opening in test matches. Rather he prefers to play as a top order batsman. Similarly there are many world class opening batsmen in the cricket world who seldom find their place in test squads.
Top 10 best opening batsmen currently in action can be ranked as under, relying on the batting average they hold in One Day Internationals.
Top 10 Best opening batsmen in ODI cricket
1. Hashim Amla
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 134 | 6319 | 159 | 51.79 | 88.97 | 22/30 |
One of the finest modern day cricketer who easily get fitted into all three formats of the game – Hashim Amla has one the highest ODI batting average in world. Only behind AB de Villiers, the most reliable opening batsman in the world holds a series of record breaking performances. The first South African to record a test triple century is also the fastest to reach 20 ODI tons. The fastest batsman to reach 3000 and then 5000 ODI runs the former Protea captain holds the record of hitting a century against all test playing nations. With a total of 22 tons on his name the finest cricket talent is destined to be an all-time greatest of the game.
2. Shikhar Dhawan
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 74 | 3078 | 137 | 43.97 | 90.26 | 9/17 |
Indian cricket team has already kept their backup plans ready. After the retirement of many legendary players in a really short span of time, it was apprehended that the side could face a serious crisis of the players skilled enough to fill the legends’ seats. However the young Indian players handled the side even a lot better than their predecessors. Similar is the case with Indian opening pair, where both Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are making history. Though the former is a less-cherished player as compared to the later, his ability of being one of the best opening batsmen has not no uncertainties. With already over three thousand ODI runs on his name Shikhar Dhawan carries one of the highest strike rates for an opener as well.
3. Martin Guptill
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 129 | 4844 | 237* | 43.25 | 86.08 | 10/30 |
The Kiwi aggressive batsman is almost a certain choice of the side at one end of the opening wicket however he is yet to find his permanent non striking partner. Often starting the inning with his skipper Kane Williamson, Guptill is the back bone of New Zealand batting order. The rickety late middle order batting line up for the side often puts extra burden on the opener to put up a perfect start. And rarely has it happened that Martin Guptill disappointed his devotees. With a highest ever world cup score of 237* Martin Guptill averages at 43.25 in ODIs thus filling the 3rd spot of our best opening batsmen in ODIs list.
4. Rohit Sharma
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 148 | 5008 | 264 | 42.08 | 84.60 | 10/28 |
Rohit Sharma may rightly be names as the sleeping giant of cricket. The right handed Indian opening batsman does not possess a huge buzz like Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni still his batting records are incredibly impressive. Usually he does not appear to be a batsman with the mindset to score a double century but at times he simply walks in a keeps breaking records. Hitting a double century in a limited over game is no more an inaccessible feat and quite a few batsmen have done it in recent years. However nobody has been able to repeat the magical double ton knock except this man – Rohit Sharma.
5. Quinton de Kock
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 60 | 2386 | 138* | 41.85 | 91.20 | 10/5 |
The Young South African sensation who came as a relief for both South African team and Ab de Villiers. South African team got the perfect opening partner for Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers got relieved of the tedious wicket keeping job. So courtesy Quinton de Kock, now we can enjoy the best version of one of the best fielders in the world. In fact this isn’t the only favor Quinton has done to the cricket world, he has some of the greatest entertaining performances in his sack as well. One of the best opening batsmen in the world has the best ever score conversion rate after he gets past his fifty. His 10 hundreds and only 5 fifties depict his unique talent perfectly.
6. Tillakaratne Dilshan
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 327 | 10216 | 161* | 39.44 | 86.35 | 22/47
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One of the most senior player currently playing in Sri Lankan team Tillakaratne Dilshan is well recognized for his innovative batting shots. His trademark “Dilscoop’ shot has encouraged various other batters to imitate and ultimately invent something even fresher. The veteran top order batsman usually plays as an opener however at times can also appear as a middle order batsman. Apart from the batting skills Dilshan is also an economical turner of the ball.
7. David Warner
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 74 | 2702 | 178 | 39.15 | 92.15 | 6/15 |
There are many best opening batsmen in the world but honestly none of them is as explosive yet reliable as David Warner. The lone warrior for his IPL 2016 winning side Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner is a complete cricket package. Adoptability to the situation is the best gift David Warner has been rewarded with. Opening batsmen are mostly demanded to be responsibly constructive and Warner is the perfect example of what an opening batsman should play. When needed no other batsman seems harder hitter than the little muscular Aussie and while on defensive feet he is a concrete wall.
8. Aaron Finch
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 60 | 2182 | 148 | 38.28 | 86.51 | 7/11 |
The other half of the team with most consecutive matches won in history, Aaron Finch is equally dangerous as David Warner. Like David Warner he’s also been blessed with numerous physical strength making him one of the finest hitters. Though more recently he has been struggling with his form Aaron Finch holds the world record of highest individual score in a T20 game. With the inclusion of Usman Khawaja in Australian squad, Finch often switches his batting position coming to the crease on more middle positions.
9. Chris Gayle
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 269 | 9221 | 215 | 37.33 | 85.11 | 22/47 |
West Indian big man has been numerously successful in the shortest version of game. His contribution in most popular t20 leagues around the globe make him an unignorably strong opening candidate. However things have not been really smooth for the Jamaican as he has been haunted by various controversies throughout his career. Despite missing out a lot of action for his troubles with cricket board Chris Gayle has managed to get very close to the glorifying figure of ten thousand runs in ODI cricket. His 22 centuries and an average of 37 are sufficient evidence of him being one of the best opening batsmen.
10. Alex Hales
| Matches | Runs | HS | Ave. | SR. | 100/50 |
| 29 | 962 | 112 | 34.35 | 87.93 | 2/6 |
In recent seasons, English cricket team has come up with probably one of the best plans for their future. Unlike test cricket squad where many senior players add to the batting depth, English limited overs squad is almost totally comprised of the fresh blood. One of the finest young talent among many English lot of future stars is Alex Hales. The opening batsman is gradually eyeing a permanent place in test side as well after his performance against Sri Lanka recently.
Top 10 Best opening batsmen in ODI cricket
- Hashim Amla
- Shikhar Dhawan
- Martin Guptill
- Rohit Sharma
- Quinton de Kock
- Tillakaratne Dilshan
- David Warner
- Aaron Finch
- Chris Gayle
- Alex Hales
