In cricket, opening the innings is one of the most challenging roles. The openers face the new ball, deal with the world’s best fast bowlers, and set the tone for the entire innings. A solid opening pair can make or break a match. Over the years, several legendary cricketers have made their mark as fearless and dependable openers.
In this article, we explore the Top 10 Best Openers in the World of All Time (2025 edition), across ODI, T20I, and Test cricket. These players have consistently provided solid starts, scored big runs, and turned games in their team’s favor.
🌍 Top 10 Best Openers in the World (All Formats) – 2025
Here’s a list of the best openers across all cricket formats, based on recent form, historical records, and overall impact.
| Rank | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India |
| 2 | Travis Head | Australia |
| 3 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England |
| 5 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa |
| 6 | Devon Conway | New Zealand |
| 7 | Brandon King | West Indies |
| 8 | Babar Azam | Pakistan |
| 9 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | India |
| 10 | Finn Allen | New Zealand |
These openers have shown excellent consistency in 2023–2025 and are known for their ability to dominate bowlers in the powerplay.
🏏 Top 10 Best ODI Openers in Cricket History
One Day Internationals (ODIs) have always relied on powerful starts, and these legendary openers have mastered that art.
🥇 1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
- Matches: 340
- Runs: 15,310
- Average: 48
- Often called the “God of Cricket,” Sachin revolutionized the role of an opener. He was the first cricketer to score a double century in ODIs.
🥈 2. Sourav Ganguly (India)
- Matches: 236
- Runs: 9,146
- Average: 41
- Known as the Prince of Kolkata, Ganguly’s partnerships with Tendulkar were key to India’s success in the early 2000s.
🥉 3. Matthew Hayden (Australia)
- Matches: 161
- Runs: 6,133
- Average: 43
- A powerhouse at the top, Hayden dominated bowlers with his aggressive intent.
🔥 4. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
- Matches: 383
- Runs: 12,740
- Average: 34
- He changed how opening was perceived with his attacking style during the 1996 World Cup.
🎯 5. Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
- Matches: 259
- Runs: 9,200
- Average: 36
- Known for his explosive starts, Gilchrist gave Australia a massive edge in the 2000s.
✅ 6. Hashim Amla (South Africa)
- Matches: 175
- Runs: 8,083
- Average: 49
- Amla’s class and timing made him one of the most consistent openers ever.
🚀 7. Chris Gayle (West Indies)
- Matches: 274
- Runs: 10,179
- Average: 39
- The “Universe Boss” is known for his monstrous sixes and match-winning knocks.
🔥 8. Virender Sehwag (India)
- Matches: 212
- Runs: 7,518
- Average: 36
- Sehwag’s fearless hitting made him a nightmare for bowlers.
🧨 9. Saeed Anwar (Pakistan)
- Matches: 220
- Runs: 8,156
- Average: 39
- Stylish and elegant, Anwar held the record for the highest ODI score (194) for many years.
⭐ 10. Rohit Sharma (India)
- Matches: 156
- Runs: 7,807
- Average: 55
- Holds the record for three double centuries in ODIs, including the highest score (264). Currently India’s leading opener.
💥 Top 10 Best T20I Opening Pairs (By Partnerships)
In T20s, partnerships are everything. These pairs have dominated the format with explosive starts.
| Rank | Opening Pair | Runs | Avg | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammad Rizwan & Babar Azam | 2452 | 50.04 | Pakistan |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan | 1743 | 33.52 | India |
| 3 | Kevin O’Brien & Paul Stirling | 1576 | 39.40 | Ireland |
| 4 | Coetzer & Munsey | 1571 | 35.70 | Scotland |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul | 1412 | 41.53 | India |
| 6 | David Warner & Aaron Finch | 1400 | 38.89 | Australia |
| 7 | Sehwag & Gambhir | 1094 | 34.19 | India |
| 8 | Q de Kock & R Hendricks | 1055 | 42.20 | South Africa |
| 9 | Guptill & Munro | 1012 | 40.48 | New Zealand |
| 10 | Stirling & Balbirnie | 1006 | 28.74 | Ireland |
🧠 Top 10 Best Test Opening Pairs
Opening in Test matches is the toughest role, often facing swinging new balls and top-quality pacers. These pairs excelled:
| Rank | Opening Pair | Runs | Avg | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenidge & Haynes | 6482 | 46.63 | West Indies |
| 2 | Langer & Hayden | 5655 | 51.41 | Australia |
| 3 | Strauss & Cook | 4711 | 40.97 | England |
| 4 | Atapattu & Jayasuriya | 4469 | 40.26 | Sri Lanka |
| 5 | Sehwag & Gambhir | 4350 | 51.79 | India |
| 6 | Taylor & Slater | 3887 | 51.14 | Australia |
| 7 | Simpson & Lawry | 3596 | 59.93 | Australia |
| 8 | Hobbs & Sutcliffe | 3249 | 87.81 | England |
| 9 | Chauhan & Gavaskar | 3010 | 52.81 | India |
| 10 | Gibbs & Smith | 2983 | 55.24 | South Africa |
🤔 FAQs
🏅 Who is the No.1 opener in cricket history?
Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as the greatest opener in cricket history. He scored 18,426 ODI runs, most of them as an opener, including 49 centuries.
🇮🇳 Who is India’s best opener of all time?
Virender Sehwag is one of the most dangerous and impactful Indian openers. Rohit Sharma, with his triple centuries and consistent performances, is also among the top.
🏁 Conclusion
Opening the innings is a true test of skill, temperament, and courage. The players listed above have defined and redefined the role of an opener across eras and formats. From the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to the modern-day powerhouse Rohit Sharma, each of them has made history with their fearless batting.
As cricket evolves, we’re likely to witness new names climb this list, but the legacy of these Top 10 Best Openers in the World will always remain unmatched.
