5 Best openers in ODI cricket right now
The opening plays an important role in any format of cricket, especially One-day internationals. The openers need to have a solid defensive technique, the ability to see the new ball off, and then put the pressure back.
There have been great openers in the past which includes
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Adam Gilchrist, Chris Gayle, Sanath
Jayasuriya who taken the level of opening to the next ball with their
aggressive stroke play.
In modern-day cricket, the countries have good quality
openers that have dominated the opposition bowlers.
Here we look at the 5 best openers in ODI cricket right now
1.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is the best opener in ODI cricket right now.
After being asked to open the innings in the ICC Champions 2013, he has
transformed into one of the greatest ODI batsmen. He has many records in ODI
cricket which include 8 150 plus totals, record 3 double centuries, 2nd
most 125 plus scores.
Rohit made his ODI debut for India against Ireland on 23rd
June 2007. Since then, the explosive opener has played a total of 224 matches
(217 innings) with 9115 runs. He holds the record of the highest induvial score to
date.
He was the leading run-getter in ODI format with 1490 runs
from 28 matches (27 innings) with 7 centuries and 6 half-centuries. During the
World Cup 2019, Rohit was the leading runs-scorer with 648 runs from 9 matches (9
innings) which included 5 record-breaking centuries. His best in the tournament
was 140 against Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma could not the last ODI series in New Zealand
due to an injury. He produced match-winning innings in the 3rd ODI
against Australia at Bangalore on 19th January 2020.
The best quality of him is that he depends upon timing and
is the best player of the short ball. He can demoralize the opposition bowlers
which helps team India post massive totals.
2.
David Warner
David Warner is a left-handed batsman from Australia who has
produced some magical innings. He made his ODI debut against South Africa 18th
January 2009. The explosive opener has a career-best score of 179 against Pakistan on 26th January 2017 at
Adelaide Oval.
In the 123 matches (121 innings), the explosive opener has
scored a total of 5267 runs with 18 centuries and 21 half-centuries. He has the backbone of the Australian batting
line up in ODI cricket. Along with Aaron Finch, Warner provided Australia
flying starts which puts the opposition bowlers under pressure.
Warner played a key role in the 2015 World Cup with 345 runs
from 8 matches (8 innings) with the best score of 178 against Afghanistan.
After missing the 2018 season due to ball-tampering case,
Warner showed his class in the 2019 World Cup. He finished as the 2nd
leading run-getter with 647 runs from 10 matches (10 innings) with 3 centuries
and 3 half-centuries. His best score in the tournament was 166 against
Bangladesh.
Before the Coronavirus pandemic, Warner was the top scorer
with 67 runs in the first ODI match against New Zealand played at SCG on 13th
March 2020.
3.
Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock is another explosive opener in ODI cricket right
now. He made his ODI debut for South Africa against New Zealand on 19th
January 2013. While opening the innings, de Kock scored 3 successive centuries
during the 2013 home season against India. For his brilliant performance, he
was awarded the man of the series.
He has played so far 121 matches (121 innings) so far with
5135 runs, with 15 centuries and 25 half-centuries. In 2019, de Kock had a
brilliant year with 774 runs from 17 matches ( 17 innings) which include 1 century and 7 half-centuries. His best score in the year was 121. De Kock and
Hashim Amla was involved in a record 282* runs stand for opening wicket against
Bangladesh on 15th October 2017.
Despite South Africa not qualifying for the knockout stage
in World Cup, de Kock had a decent one with 305 runs from 9 matches (9 innings)
with 1 century and 1 half-century. His best score in the tournament was 68.
He was made the captain of the South African ODI side in the
home series against England. During the first match played at Cape Town on 4th
February 2020, de Kock played a captain’s knock with 107 off 113 balls and
helped South Africa chase the target of 259 with ease. He came up with another
fine knock during the 3rd ODI at Johannesburg on 9th
February, de Kock made 69.
After the coronavirus pandemic, de Kock will be hoping to
continue his terrific form for South Africa in ODI cricket and bring some
stability.
4.
Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill is another aggressive opener in ODI cricket
right now. He made his ODI debut for New Zealand against West Indies on 10th
June 2009. Since then, the right-handed opener has played a total of 183
matches (180 innings) and 6843 runs with 16 centuries and 37 half-centuries.
Guptill played one of the best knocks in World Cup history
by remaining not out on 237 off 163 balls with 24 fours and 11 sixes in 4th
quarterfinals of 2015 World Cup played at Westpac Stadium, Wellington on 21st
March. He is one of the double centurions in ODI cricket.
The right-handed explosive opener from New Zealand scored
650 runs from 20 matches (20 innings) in ODI cricket during 2019. He scored 3
centuries and 1 half-century with the best score of 138.
Despite New Zealand performing so well in the 2019 World
Cup, Guptill had a disappointing tournament with just 186 runs from 10 matches
(10 innings) with only 1 half-century. His best score was 73*.
In the 3 matches ODI series against India at home, Guptill
scored 32, 79, and 66. He and Henry Nicholls provided brilliant starts to the
team which laid a strong foundation for setting up the total and also chasing
down the target.
Before the lockdown came into effect, Guptill was the top
scorer with 40 in the first ODI match at Sydney on 13th March 2020.
5.
Jason Roy
The presence of Jason Roy has transformed England into one
of the best batting line up in ODI cricket right now. He made his debut on 8th
May 2015 against Ireland.
Since his debut, Roy has played 87 matches (83 innings) and
scored a total of 3434 runs with the best score of 180 against Australia. In his
short ODI career so far, he hit 9 centuries and 18 half-centuries so far.
After the 2015 World Cup, Roy has made a major impact for
England with 400 plus totals 4 times. His ability to put pressure on the fast
bowlers makes him special batsmen.
Playing his maiden World Cup in 2019, Roy scored 443 runs
from 8 matches (7 innings) with 1 century and 4 half-centuries. His best score
during the tournament was 153. He and Jonny Bairstow provided flying starts to
England to lay a strong foundation for a massive total. Roy rose to the
occasion making life tough for opposition bowlers.
The explosive opener had a great 2019 in ODIs with 845 runs
from 14 matches (12 innings) with 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries which made
sure that England won the prestigious tournament for the first time.
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| Rohit Sharma record 5 centuries in WC 2019 |
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