Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Rohit Sharma in top 3 ODI openers of all-time: Irfan Pathan & Kris Srikkanth | Irfan Pathan says that Rohit Sharma is among the top three ODI openers in the history of the game
Former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan has heaped praise on Rohit Sharma, claiming he is among the top three ODI openers of all-time. Speaking on Star Sports Cricket Connected along with former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth, Pathan spoke about who Rohit’s biggest competitors are in his mind.
“Definitely top three for sure,” Pathan said. “Everybody has seen Sachin paaji, the biggest legend in world cricket not only Indian cricket. He will always be No. 1. No.2, I think Sehwag has had a big impact as an opener in one-day cricket. And No.3 is definitely Rohit, and he hasn’t finished yet.”
Also read: Irfan Pathan describes the difference between MS Dhoni in 2007 and 2013
Rohit Sharma had a slow start to his ODI career, failing to average 30 in a calendar year in each of his first three years as an ODI cricketer. However, MS Dhoni’s backing, as well as a move to opener in 2013 reaped great results.

In 138 innings as an ODI opener, Rohit has hit 7,148 runs at an average of 58.11, with 27 centuries. Those numbers are fantastic, but it is his ability to score really big centuries – including three double-centuries – that most impresses former Indian captain Srikkanth.
“What is the greatest quality in Rohit is that he goes for those big hundreds and double hundreds,” said Srikkanth. “That is something amazing. In a one-day match, going for 150, 180, 200, imagine where you are going to take your team to. That is the greatness of Rohit Sharma. He is definitely in the top three or five all-time openers as far as one-day cricket is concerned,” Srikkanth said.
Uncertainty remains as to when cricket will return in India given the COVID-19. So, fans may get to catch a glimpse of Rohit in white-ball cricket if the T20 World Cup does go ahead (albeit unlikely) or if the IPL is confirmed to go ahead.
Also read:
- Sourav Ganguly says the BCCI is working on all options to stage IPL in 2020
- COVID-19 may force us to play IPL outside India, says Brijesh Patel
- How Rohit Sharma is key to the success of Mumbai Indians