Openers are a driving force in the team. They are mainly responsible for setting up a perfect platform from the word go such that the entire team goes on to collect more runs with a view to posting a humongous total on the board while batting first.
On the other hand, when the team is chasing, openers need to make sure that they get off to a good start. A nervy start might put the entire team in all sorts of trouble.
Now, in this article, we will take a look at the five players who have completed 7000 runs in ODIs as an opener in less than 200 innings.
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is the best opener in white-ball cricket without a shadow of any doubt. The right-handed batsman has completed 7000 runs in One-Day Internationals and is the fastest batsman to accomplish the feat. The Indian captain took 137 innings to reach the milestone.
2. Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla was widely recognized as one of the greatest batters of all time for South Africa. The former Proteas international is the second-fastest to complete 7000 runs as an opening batter in ODIs. Hashim Amla achieved the feat in 137 innings as an opener.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is the third-fastest to complete 7000 runs in One-Day Internationals as an opener. The Master Blaster accomplished the feat in just 160 innings. He holds the world record of smashing 100 centuries in international cricket.
4. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly is the fourth-fastest batsman to complete 7000 runs in ODIs as an opener. The former Indian opening batter who changed the face of Indian cricket during the playing days of his cricketing career has achieved the feat in 174 innings.
5. Chris Gayle
Christopher Henry Gayle is the fifth-fastest batsman to complete 7000 runs in One-Day Internationals as an opener. The Universe Boss accomplished the feat in 189 innings.
