Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has etched his name deeper into cricket history with an extraordinary batting display. With preparations building toward the ODI World Cup 2027, the seasoned batter has displayed peak rhythm. During the third ODI match against West Indies in New Chandigarh, Rohit surpassed a marquee record originally set by Sachin Tendulkar nearly 22 years ago. By reaching this landmark, he also established himself as only the fourth opening batter in the history of one-day international cricket to aggregate ten thousand runs at the top of the order.
Surpassing Tendulkar by Twelve Innings
The record for the quickest progression to 10,000 runs as an opening batsman previously belonged to Sachin Tendulkar. The batting legend had scaled the peak during a contest against Australia at Brisbane in 2004, requiring 214 innings to touch the five-figure mark. Rohit Sharma eclipsed that benchmark comfortably, achieving the identical milestone in 12 fewer innings. The current Indian batter completed the feat in just 202 innings as an opener, setting a brand-new world standard for speed and consistency at the top of the order. Prior to this match, no opener had reached the threshold at a comparable pace.
An Elite Group of Four Openers
Throughout the timeline of 50-over international cricket, only four batsmen have managed to amass 10,000 runs or more specifically while opening the batting. Sachin Tendulkar heads this exclusive compilation with a staggering 15310 runs compiled exclusively from the opening slot. Sri Lanka's legendary left-hander Sanath Jayasuriya occupies the second rung, having produced 12740 runs as an opener across his career. West Indian stalwart Chris Gayle stands in the third spot with 10179 runs scored as an opening batter. Having crossed ten thousand runs, Rohit Sharma is now positioned directly behind Gayle, with an immediate pathway to overtake the West Indian run tally and inch closer toward Jayasuriya before next year's premier tournaments arrive.
Over 12,000 Overall ODI Runs and 35 Centuries
Beyond his achievements restricted to the opening role, Rohit Sharma's overarching ODI resume stands among the most prolific in modern cricket, boasting over 12,000 career runs overall. Across that span, he has registered 35 centuries alongside 35 half-centuries. Just one game prior in the ongoing series against West Indies, he produced a blistering knock to notch his 35th one-day century, hammering 101 runs from 75 deliveries with an assault featuring 10 boundaries and six towering sixes. With India's squad announcement for the upcoming series against New Zealand on the immediate horizon, the senior batsman's commanding form makes his presence a central fixture for the national side.
