Former India captain Rohit Sharma endured a disappointing outing in the first ODI against Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on June 13, departing for 16 off 16 balls after a costly run-out. A mix-up with skipper Shubman Gill, coupled with Gill being blocked by Rashid Khan during his follow-through, led to the dismissal.
Although his innings was cut short, Rohit reached a significant personal milestone. The veteran opener became only the seventh batter in international cricket to score more than 16,000 runs while opening the batting. Following the match, he has accumulated 16,010 runs across formats in 359 matches at an average of 45.22, including 45 centuries and 83 fifties.
With this achievement, Rohit joined an exclusive group of legendary openers who have crossed the 16,000-run mark in international cricket. This feature looks at the six players who reached the landmark before him.
#1 Sanath Jayasuriya (19,298)
Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya remains the highest run-scorer among openers in international cricket. Across 506 matches in all formats, he accumulated 19,298 runs at an average of 35.86, registering 41 centuries and 95 half-centuries.
As a Test opener, Jayasuriya scored 5,932 runs in 90 matches at an average of 41.48, including 13 hundreds and 25 fifties, with a highest score of 340. In ODIs, he amassed 12,740 runs from 388 innings at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 92.48, hitting 28 centuries and 66 fifties.
He also represented Sri Lanka in 28 T20Is as an opener, scoring 626 runs at a strike rate of 129.33.
#2 Chris Gayle (18,867)
Former West Indies skipper Chris Gayle sits second on the list of highest run-scorers as an opener in international cricket. Across 441 matches in all formats, he scored 18,867 runs at an average of 39.80, including 42 centuries and 102 half-centuries.
As a Test opener, Gayle amassed 7,028 runs in 99 matches at an average of 43.11, with 15 hundreds and 36 fifties, while his highest score was 333. In ODI cricket, he accumulated 10,179 runs from 280 matches at an average of 39.45 and a strike rate of 88.02, registering 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries.
He also featured in 62 T20Is as an opener, scoring 1,660 runs at an average of 31.32 and a strike rate of 141.75, including two hundreds and 13 fifties.
#3 David Warner (18,744)
Australian opener David Warner ranks third among the highest run-scorers as an opener in international cricket. Across 374 matches in all three formats, he accumulated 18,744 runs at an average of 42.89, including 49 centuries and 97 half-centuries, with a highest score of 335*.
In Test cricket, Warner scored 8,786 runs in 112 matches at an average of 44.59 and a strike rate of 70.19, registering 26 hundreds and 37 fifties. As an ODI opener, he amassed 6,888 runs from 159 matches at an average of 45.31 and a strike rate of 97.15, with 22 centuries and 33 half-centuries.
Warner also enjoyed a successful T20I career, scoring 3,109 runs in 103 innings as an opener at an average of 34.16 and a strike rate of 142.15. His tally included one century and 27 fifties.
#4 Graeme Smith (16,950)
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith sits fourth on the list of highest run-scorers as an opener in international cricket. Across 342 matches, the left-hander accumulated 16,950 runs at an average of 42.69, registering 37 centuries and 88 half-centuries.
Smith enjoyed a remarkable Test career, scoring 9,030 runs in 114 matches as an opener at an average of 49.07. His record included 27 hundreds, 36 fifties and a highest score of 277. In ODI cricket, he amassed 6,974 runs from 196 matches at an average of 38.10 and a strike rate of 80.94, with 10 centuries and 47 half-centuries.
The former Proteas skipper also featured in 32 T20Is, scoring 946 runs at a strike rate of 127.49. His tally in the shortest format included five half-centuries.
#5 Desmond Haynes (16,120)
West Indies great Desmond Haynes scored 16,120 runs as an opener in international cricket despite playing only Tests and ODIs. Across 354 matches, he maintained an impressive average of 41.87, while registering 35 centuries and 96 half-centuries.
In Test cricket, Desmond Haynes accumulated 7,487 runs from 116 matches at an average of 42.29, including 18 centuries and 39 fifties. He was equally prolific in ODIs, scoring 8,648 runs in 238 matches at an average of 41.37, with 17 hundreds and 57 half-centuries to his name.
#6 Virender Sehwag (16,119)
Former India opener Virender Sehwag became the first Indian batter to surpass 16,000 international runs as an opener. Across 332 matches, the explosive right-hander amassed 16,119 runs at an average of 41.54, including 36 centuries and 67 half-centuries.
Sehwag enjoyed tremendous success in Test cricket, scoring 8,207 runs in 99 matches as an opener at an average of 50.04 and a strike rate of 83.10. His Test record featured 22 hundreds, 30 fifties, and a highest score of 319. In ODIs, Sehwag scored 7,518 runs in 214 matches at an average of 36.49 and a strike rate of 104.72, including 14 centuries and 35 fifties.
He also represented India in 19 T20Is as an opener, scoring 394 runs at a strike rate of 145.38, with two half-centuries to his name.
#7 Rohit Sharma (16,010)
Indian batter Rohit Sharma is only the second player from his country to score 16,000 international runs as an opener. He reached this milestone in June 2026 during an ODI against Afghanistan, bringing his total to 16,010 runs in 384 innings as an opener across all formats.
Before retiring from Tests and T20Is, Rohit Sharma was a regular opener for India across formats. In Test cricket, he scored 2,615 runs in 49 matches at an average of 40.23, including 7 centuries. In T20 Internationals, he amassed 4,231 runs in 151 matches at a strike rate of 140.89.
In ODIs, where he continues to play, he has scored over 9,000 runs as an opener and remains one of the most successful top-order batters in the format.
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