Most 100+ opening stands in ODIs
The top two spots in the list of most hundred plus opening stands in ODI cricket have been taken by Indian pairs.
21 Tendulkar – Ganguly
The first time that SouravGanguly and Sachin Tendulkar batted together for India in ODI cricket was in 1996. Such was the success of the two that they went on to score loads of runs for India as openers.
Despite Ganguly pushing himself down the order with the rise of VirenderSehwag, the pair is still the most successful opening combination in ODI cricket with 6609 runs from 136 innings. The two have put together 21 100 + partnerships and 23 50 + partnerships in ODI cricket, averaging 49.32 while opening the batting with each other.
17 Rohit – Dhawan
It was more a case of destiny rather than planning by Rohit Sharma and ShikharDhawan as they found themselves opening the batting with each other for the first time in the 2013 Champions Trophy, and the partnership clicked right away.
Dhawan and Sharma helped India win the 2013 Champions Trophy title under MS Dhoni and have since been like hand and gloves at the top of the order for India. From 110 innings, they have close to 5000 runs with the best of 210 and an average of 45.66.
Rohit Sharma and ShikharDhawan have already registered 17 100 plus partnerships and 15 50 plus partnerships together in ODIs.
With the rise of the likes of Prithvi Shaw, DevduttPadikkal, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul, it would be interesting to see whether Shikhar continues to be the opening partner of Rohit Sharma till the 2023 ODI World Cup or Rohit gets a new partner at the top of the order in ODIs as well.
16 Gilchrist – Hayden
Australia’s Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden were part of the most iconic partnerships in ODI cricket. The two opened the batting together for Australia between 2001 and 2008 from 114 innings, scoring 5372 runs at an average of 48.39.
The beauty of the partnership was that both were explosive players and when on song they could put the opposition bowlers under serious pressure. The highest partnership between Gilchrist and Hayden stands at 172. They added 16 100 plus partnerships and 29 50 plus partnerships together in ODI cricket.
15 Greenidge – Haynes
West Indies’ legendary pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes opened the batting together on 102 occasions and made 5150 runs at an average of 52.55.
The duo had 15 100 plus partnerships and 24 50 plus partnerships in ODI cricket, with the best of 192 not out.
