10 Indian Players With The Most Runs As Openers In Tests

In the past, many Indian players have invited a lot of recognition with their performances as openers. Openers have a prominent responsibility on their shoulders. They have to execute a good start for the team while batting and set the stage for the upcoming batsmen.

When openers bat with dominance, the opposition team comes under pressure. Similarly, when openers lose their wickets cheaply, it exerts pressure on the upcoming batsmen.

In Indian cricket, many openers have played numerous wonderful knocks for the team during their careers. Their excellence while batting at the opening position also gave them a consistent spot in the team as an opener in many games.

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They also piled up a lot of runs and earned accolades for their batting show while opening the batting. In this listicle, we take a glance at 10 Indian players with the most runs as openers in Tests.

10 Indian Players With The Most Runs As Openers In Tests

10. KL Rahul- 2025 Runs

KL Rahul takes the 10th spot in this list. As an opener, the Indian player has scored 2025 runs in Tests so far. The right-handed batsman played his 1st match as an opener in January 2015, smashing a century in the encounter against Australia.

For India, the wicketkeeper-batsman has opened the batting in 56 Test innings, scoring 2025 runs at an average of 37.50. He has also hit 5 centuries and 11 half-centuries as an opener. His highest knock in Tests is 199 runs, which he shattered in a Test match against England in December 2016.

9. Kris Srikkanth- 2062 Runs

Former Indian player Kris Srikkanth gets the 9th spot in this list with 2062 runs in Tests as an opener. The right-handed batsman played for India in 43 Tests from 1981 to 1992. He played as an opener in all the 43 matches he played for the team.

In 72 innings, Srikkanth mustered 2062 runs at an average of 29.88. Srikkanth also smashed 2 centuries and 12 fifties in Tests. His highest Test knock was 123 runs, which he smacked in an encounter against Pakistan in February 1987.

8. Chetan Chauhan- 2069 Runs

Former Indian player Chetan Chauhan, who played Test cricket for India from 1969 to 1981, is placed on the 8th spot in this list. The late Indian cricketer scored 2069 runs in Tests as an opener.

The right-handed batsman piled up 2069 runs in 67 Test innings at an average of 31.83. He also scored 16 half-centuries in his Test career. Chauhan???s highest Test score was 97 runs, which arrived in a Test match against Australia in January 1981.

7. Pankaj Roy- 2220 Runs

Pankaj Roy takes the 7th spot in this list. The former Indian player scored 2220 runs in Tests for India at the opening position. The late Indian cricketer played Test cricket for India from 1951 to 1960. In 74 innings, he scored 2220 runs at an average of 31.71.

The right-handed batsman also hit 4 hundreds and 9 fifties in Tests, with the highest knock of 173 in a Test encounter against New Zealand in January 1956.

6. Shikhar Dhawan- 2315 Runs

Shikhar Dhawan gets the 6th spot in this list with 2315 runs for India in Test as an opener. Dhawan, who is currently a regular member of team Indian in ODIs and T20Is, has played 34 Test matches in his career so far. The left-handed batsman played his last Test in September 2018.

The left-hander has played as an opener in all the Test matches in his career so far. In 58 innings, the 35-year-old player has muttered 2315 runs at an average of 40.61. Dhawan has also shattered 7 centuries and 5 half-centuries in Tests. He smashed his highest Test score of 190 runs in a game against Sri Lanka in July 2017.

5. Navjot Singh Sidhu- 2911

Navjot Singh Sidhu grabs the 5th spot in this list. The former opener scored 2911 runs for India at the opening slot. The right-handed batsman played Test matches for India from 1983 to 1999. While batting as an opener in 69 Test innings, he scored 2911 runs at an average of 42.81.

The Indian player also smacked 8 centuries and 15 half-centuries while batting as an opener. His highest knock in Test was 201 runs, which he hit in a match against West Indies in March 1997.

4. Murali Vijay- 3880 Runs

Murali Vijay played 105 Test innings in his career, out of which he batted as an opener in 100 innings. The right-handed batsman scored 3880 runs in 100 Test innings and grabs 4th place in this list.

With a batting average of 39.19 as an opener, the Indian player has also hit 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries in Tests, all of which arrived when he opened the innings for India. His highest knock was 167 runs, which he smacked in a match against Australia in Match 2013.

3. Gautam Gambhir- 4119 Runs

Gautam Gambhir bags the 3rd place in this list with 4119 runs in Tests as an opener. The former Indian player batted in 104 Test innings during his career, out of which he played as an opener in 101 innings. He mustered 4119 runs in these 101 innings at an average of 42.91.

Gambhir also hit 9 centuries and 22 half-centuries in Test while batting as an opener. His highest Test knock was a double century of 206 runs, which he shattered against Australia in October 2008.

2. Virender Sehwag- 8207 Runs

Former Indian player Virender Sehwag seizes the 2nd spot in this list. The right-handed batsman played 104 Tests for India from 2001 to 2013. He batted as an opener in 170 innings, smashing 8207 runs at an impressive average of 50.04.

The former opener also smacked 22 centuries and 30 half-centuries in Tests. His highest Test knock was a triple ton of 319 runs, which he hit in a Test against South Africa in Match 2008.

1. Sunil Gavaskar- 9607 Runs

Former Indian player Sunil Gavaskar steals the top spot in this list. Gavaskar scored 9607 runs as an opener in Tests. Since his debut in 1971, Gavaskar played as an opener for India in 199 Tests till his Test career in 1987. In 203 innings while playing as an opener, the right-handed batsman mustered 9607 runs at an average of 50.29.

He also smacked 33 centuries and 42 half-centuries while batting as an opener in Tests. His highest Test knock was unbeaten 236 runs, however, while batting as an opener, his highest Test score was 221 runs.