Full list of openers with 16,000 or more runs in international cricket

× Former India captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply in the first ODI against Afghanistan at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday, June 13. He was run out for a run-a-ball 16 following a horrible mix-up with skipper Shubman Gill. The latter also got stuck behind the bowler's (Rashid Khan) follow-through, adding to the confusion.

Ad Despite being dismissed cheaply, Rohit achieved a massive milestone. The Hitman joined the rare list of openers with 16,000-plus runs in international cricket. Following the first one-dayer against Afghanistan, the 39-year-old has 16,010 runs across formats from 359 matches.

He has an overall average of 45.22, with 45 hundreds and 83 half-centuries. Rohit is only the seventh batter to surpass 16,000 runs as an opener in international cricket.

In this feature, we take a look at six other batters who got to the landmark before him. Ad Trending #1 Sanath Jayasuriya (19,298) Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for having scored most runs as an opener in international cricket. He played 506 matches across formats and amassed 19,298 runs at an average of 35.

86, with the aid of 41 hundreds and 95 half-centuries. In 90 Tests as opener, Jayasuriya scored 5,932 runs at an average of 41.48, with 13 tons, 25 fifties and a best score of 340.

In 388 ODIs, he amassed 12,740 runs at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 92.48, with 28 hundreds and 66 half-centuries.

Jayasuriya also featured in 28 T20Is as opener and scored 626 runs at a strike rate of 129.33 Ad #2 Chris Gayle (18,867) Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle occupies the second place on the list of openers with most runs in international cricket. In 441 matches across formats, he amassed 18,867 runs at an average of 39.

80, with 42 tons and 102 fifties. In 99 Tests as opener, Gayle notched up 7,028 runs at an average of 43.11, with 15 hundreds, 36 half-centuries and a best of 333.

He also smacked 10,179 runs in 280 ODIs, averaging 39.45 at a strike rate of 88.02, with 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries.

Gayle also played 62 T20Is as opener, scoring 1,660 runs at an average of 31.32 and a strike rate of 141.75, with two tons and 13 half-centuries.

Ad #3 David Warner (18,744) Australia's David Warner completes the top three list of batters with most runs as opener in international cricket. In 374 matches across the three formats of the game, he scored 18,744 runs at an average of 42.89, with the aid of 49 hundreds, 97 half-centuries and a best of 335*.

In 112 Tests, Warner scored 8,786 runs at an average of 44.59 and a strike rate of 70.19, with 26 centuries and 37 half-centuries.

The southpaw also played 159 ODIs as opener, scoring 6,888 runs at an average of 45.31 and a strike rate of 97.15, with 22 centuries and 33 fifties.

In 103 T20Is as opener, Warner scored 3,109 runs, averaging 34.16 at a strike rate of 142.15.

His stats included one hundred and 27 half-centuries. Ad #4 Graeme Smith (16,950) The underrated Graeme Smith occupies the fourth place on the list of openers with most runs in international cricket. In 342 matches, the former South African captain amassed 16,950 runs at an average of 42.

69, with 37 tons and 88 fifties. Smith played 114 Tests as opener in which he scored 9,030 runs at an average of 49.07, with 27 hundreds, 36 half-centuries and a best of 277.

In ODIs, the left-handed batter scored 6,974 runs in 196 matches at an average of 38.10 and a strike rate of 80.94, with 10 tons and 47 fifties.

He also scored 946 runs in 32 T20Is at a strike rate of 127.49, with five half-centuries. Ad #5 Desmond Haynes (16,120) West Indies legend Desmond Haynes amassed 16,120 runs while playing just two formats of the game - Tests and ODIs.

He played 354 international matches and averaged 41.87, with 35 hundreds and 96 half-centuries. PlayerMatchesRunsAverageHS100s50sSanath Jayasuriya50619,29835.

863404195Chris Gayle44118,86739.8033342102David Warner37418,74442.89335*4997Graeme Smith34216,95042.

692773788Desmond Haynes35416,12041.871843596Virender Sehwag33216,11941.543193667Rohit Sharma35916,01045.

222644583 Ad (List of openers with 16,000-plus international runs) Haynes played 116 Test matches and scored 7,487 runs at an average of 42.29, with the aid of 18 hundreds and 39 half-centuries. In ODIs, the former West Indies opener played 238 matches and scored 8,648 runs at an average of 41.

37, with 17 hundreds and 57 half-centuries. #6 Virender Sehwag (16,119) The swashbuckling Virender Sehwag was the first Indian batter to cross the 16,000-run mark as an opener in international cricket. In 332 matches, he totaled 16,119 runs at an average of 41.

54, with 36 hundreds and 67 half-centuries.In 99 Test matches as opener, Sehwag smashed 8,207 runs at an average of 50.04 and a strike rate of 83.

10, with 22 hundreds, 30 half-centuries and a best of 319. In 214 ODIs, Sehwag notched up 7,518 runs at an average of 36.49 and a strike rate of 104.

72, with 14 tons and 35 half-centuries.