Top 10 Best Opening Batsmen in ODI Cricket Right Now

A good opening batsman can build the foundation of a big total for his team. Playing with the new ball and facing the primary attack bowlers of the opponent team is not everyone’s piece of cake. But, through their excellent batting techniques and great eye combination, an opening batsman can charge aggressive fast bowlers of the opponent team. Today, we will be looking at the Top 10 Best Opening Batsman in ODI Cricket Right Now.

Top 10 Best Opening Batsmen in ODI Cricket

Many great batsmen like Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar have earned their names by opening for their teams. Besides, Big run scorers mostly open for their team as they have the most time and overs to build big innings. Cricket history is full of such great opening batsman. So here goes the list of the Top 10 Great opening batsman in ODI cricket of today.

1. Rohit Sharma [ Ranked 3rd On ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

Undoubtedly, Rohit Sharma is the best opening batsman in the world right now. So, he takes the top spot on our list of best opening Batsman in ODI cricket. Nicknamed Hitman, Rohit plays the role of an opening batsman for team India.

Rohit made his ODI debut on 23rd June 2007 against Ireland. So far, he has played 227 ODI matches for India. In his career span of 13 years, he 29 centuries and 43 fifties to his name, with his total runs accounting to 9,205.

Hitman holds the record for most sixes and the highest individual score of 264 in the ODI match. In addition, he was awarded the ICC’s ODI Player of the year award in 2019. Therefore, he deserves the first spot on our list of Greatest ODI batsmen.

2. Aaron Finch [Ranked 5th on ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

Australian Skipper Aaron Finch takes 2nd place in our list of Top 10 Best Opening Batsmen in ODI Cricket. He is nicknamed Finchy by his teammates and fans. Finchy made his ODI debut on 11th January 2013 against Sri Lanka. Since then, he has represented Australia in 132 ODI matches.

Aaron Finch has scored 5,232 ODI runs with an average of 41.85. Moreover, he also has 17 centuries and 29 fifties to his name. Finchy plays the role of a right-handed opener for Australia.

Apart from International Cricket, he also plays domestic Cricket for Victoria, Surrey, and Melbourne Renegades. In addition, he has been a handy opener for Australia on multiple occasions. Therefore, he occupies the 2nd spot on our list.

3. Jonny Bairstow [ Ranked 6th on ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

Present-day English Opener Jonny Bairstow also makes it on our list at the 3rd slot. He is regarded as one of the best wicket-keepers of all times in Cricket, and he enjoys opening for his team. Jonny played domestic Cricket for Yorkshire in his early days as a cricketer. Therefore he was given the nickname YJB when he became a part of the English team.

He debuted for England on 28th March 2011 against India in ODI format. Since then, Jonny has played 86 ODI matches for England. He accounts for 3,426 runs at an average of 48.25 with eleven centuries and 14 fifties.

In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, he was the 2nd highest run-scorer for England. With his consistent performances with the bat, England ended up winning their first World Cup title.

So, Jonny Bairstow holds the third spot on our list of Greatest English Openers in ODI cricket.

4. Fakhar Zaman [ Ranked 7th on ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

Modern-day Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman also puts together on the list of Top 10 Best Opening Batsmen in ODI Cricket at number 4th position. Nicknamed Fauji due to his relation with Pakistan Navvy, he has been an excellent opening batsman for Pakistan after his ODI debut on 17th June 2017.

In ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final against arch-rival India, Fakhar scored his maiden ODI century. It was the first-ever century in the ICC Champion Trophy event by a Pakistani. His magnificent hundred against India won Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Title.

He is the first Pakistani to score a double hundred in ODI format, surpassing Saeed Anwar’s 194. His highest ODI score, 210, is the highest individual score by a Pakistani in ODIs. He recently scored 193 against South Africa, which is the highest score in a losing cause in ODIs. Also, he is the fastest Batsman to score 1,000 runs in ODI cricket.

Since his debut in 2017, he has only played 50 matches for Pakistan. However, in his short career, he has scored 2,262 runs with an average of 49.17 with six centuries. So, he surely deserves a spot on our list.

5. Fuf Du Plessis [ ranked 8th on ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

Former South African Captain Fuf Du Plessis also makes it on our table of Greatest South African ODI Opening batsmen. He is nicknamed Faf by his teammates and fans. Fuf plays the role of the right-handed opening batsman for South Africa in ODIs.

Faf made his ODI debut on 18th January 2011 against India. He has played 143 ODIs for South Africa so far. In this career span of almost a decade, he has 5,507 runs to his name, with an average of 47.47. Apart from it, he has also scored 12 centuries and 35 fifties in ODI format.

His highest score of 185 against Sri Lanka in 2017 is the 2nd Highest ODI score by a South African batsman. Moreover, he has won many South Africa matches on his own with his elegant batting style. So, he takes the 5th spot on our list of Best South African Opening Batsmen.

6. David Warner [ Ranked 9th in ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

At number 6th, we have Australian Bull David Warner on our list of Greatest ODI Opening Batsman from Australia. Warner became part of the Australian ODI team in 2009. Since then, he has represented Australia in 128 ODI matches. He plays the role of a left-handed Opening batsman in ODIs for Australia.

Warner accounts for 5,455 ODI runs with a good batting average of 45.45. He has 18 centuries and 23 fifties to his name with the best score of 179. Also, He is the fastest Australian to complete the mark of 5,000 ODI runs.

He is a destructive opener in ODIs for Australia, who likes to charge on opponent bowlers. Therefore, he takes 6th place on our list.

7. Shai Hope [ Ranked 10th on ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings]

Barbadian Cricketer Shai Hope, representing West Indies in ODIs, gets the 7th place on our list of Best ODI Openers globally. Nicknamed Hope, he made his ODI debut on 16th November 2016 against Sri Lanka. Hopes plays the role of Right Handed Opening Wicket-keeper batsman for West Indies in ODIs.

Since making his debut, he has scored 3,438 runs in ODI format with a batting average of 53.58. He also has ten centuries and 19 fifties to his name in One Day format with a top score of 170. Hope is the 2nd fastest batsman to score 2,000 and 3,000 runs in ODI format.

Therefore, Shai Hopes takes the 7th slot on our table of best West Indies Opening batsman in Cricket.

8. Quinton de Kock

Former Proteas captain in all formats, Quinton De Kock joins our list at the 8th spot. This 28 years old young player from South Africa is nicknamed Quinny. He has earned his name as an excellent opener for South Africa. Quinny made his first ODI appearance on 19th June 2013 against New Zealand.

In his eight years long career, he has played 123 ODI matches for South Africa. He accounts for 5,235 runs in ODIs with a batting average of 44.74. Quinny also has 15 centuries and 26 fifties to his name in the ODI format with a top score of 178.

Moreover, he also holds the record of fastest South African to complete 1,000 ODI runs. Thus, he occupies 8th place on our list of Greatest South African opening batsmen.

9. Imam ul Haq

Current Pakistani Opener Imam ul Haq also puts together on our list of Greatest ODI openers in Cricket. Imam is the nephew of Legendary Pakistani Cricketer Inzamam ul Haq. He made his ODI debut on 18th October 2017 against Sri Lanka.

In his short career of four years, Imam has played only 42 matches. However, he has hit 1,909 ODI runs with a batting average of 51.59. Apart from it, Imam also accounts for 7 ODI tons and eight fifties as well.

In 2019, he scored 151 runs against England, which is the highest individual score by a Pakistani against the English team. In addition, Imam is also the second Pakistani to complete the fastest 1,000 runs.

He currently enjoys the 13th position in ICC ODI Batsmen rankings. Therefore, Imam surely deserves a place on our list of Best Pakistani Openers in Cricket.

10. Martin Guptill

Present-day Kiwi opener Martin Guptill makes the final spot on our list of Greatest New Zealand Openers in ODI Cricket. Guptill is nicknamed Two Toes. He made his ODI debut on 10th January 2009 against West Indies.

Martin Guptill is the first New Zealander to score a double hundred in ODI cricket. He also holds the record of highest individual score in World Cup matches of 237 not out.

Guptill has 6,927 ODIs runs to his name with a batting average of 42.3. He also owns 16 centuries and 37 fifties in the ODI format with a top score of 237*.

Therefore, Martin Guptill enjoys the last spot on our list of Top 10 Best Opening Batsmen in ODI Cricket.

Conclusion

So, here is our list. Who do you think should make it on our list. Let us know in the comments.