ODI cricket opening requires a unique blend of aggression and composure. Contrary to finesse-driven approach required in Test cricket, ODI openers must score heavily and preserve the wickets for the middle order. New ball seams and swings, yet boundaries are the imperative. This delicate balance creates good openers and excellent ones. These ten batsmen have monopolized ODI cricket's opening troubles in magnificent style. Their hundreds are the perfect combination of calculated risk-taking and devastating strokeplay. From consistently rotating strike to unleashing fearful attacks on bowling line-ups, these players have redefined standards of what successful openers in limited-overs cricket should be like. Their excellence transcends different eras and playing conditions. Some shone in the initial stages of ODI cricket, others shone in modern high-scoring conditions. Each had individual styles, some relied on conventional technique, some chose nonconventional innovation. But all shared one aspect: excellent hand-eye, sense of the game, and ability to counter with sudden acceleration if the situation demanded it. Top 10 Openers with Most Centuries in ODI Cricket Rank Player Country Matches Runs Average Strike Rate Centuries Highest Score 1 SR Tendulkar India 45 5,664 171.63 98.65 45 200* 2 RG Sharma India 30 4,175 198.80 112.14 30 264 3 ST Jayasuriya Sri Lanka 28 3,434 149.30 113.33 28 189 4 HM Amla South Africa 27 3,257 155.09 100.12 27 159 5 CH Gayle West Indies 25 3,230 179.44 103.39 25 215 6 DA Warner Australia 22 2,905 138.33 109.41 22 179 7 Quinton de Kock South Africa 21 2,598 136.73 108.47 21 178 8 TM Dilshan Sri Lanka 21 2,538 211.50 99.96 21 161* 9 Saeed Anwar Pakistan 20 2,296 176.61 91.80 20 194 10 SC Ganguly India 19 2,401 200.08 92.31 19 183 Top 10 Openers with Most Centuries in ODI Cricket Detailed Analysis Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 45 Centuries Image Source : Getty Images Sachin Tendulkar's 45 one-day century stand is the summit of limited-overs glory. His average of 171.63 reflects his phenomenal consistency of 5,664 runs. Tendulkar's 200 not out made him ODI cricket's first double-centurion. What made him a legend was versatility, switching from anchor to attacking opener with ease over time. His method against pace and spin was flawless, combining traditional strokes with innovation. Tendulkar's influence transcended numbers, motivating generations of cricket fans around the globe and leading Indian cricket to unprecedented levels of success across the globe. Also Read | Who has the highest individual score in ODI cricket? [Updated 2025] Rohit Sharma (India) - 30 Centuries Image Source : Getty Images Rohit Sharma's 30 centuries are indicative of explosive growth of contemporary opening batting. His record average of 198.80 is a witness to consistency, and his strike rate of 112.14 speaks volumes of aggressive intent. Sharma's record 264 is ODI cricket's highest individual score. What makes him different is unforced timing and boundary-clearing power without apparent force. His transformation from inconsistent middle-order batter to world-class opener is cricket's best positional success stories. Sharma possesses three ODI double hundreds, most by anyone, indicating persistent concentration capabilities in marathon innings. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) - 28 Centuries Image Source : AFP Sanath Jayasuriya revolutionized ODI opening with explosive, unorthodox aggression during the 1990s. His 28 centuries exemplified courage in attack, with a strike rate of 113.33 revolutionary during his era. What made him unique was readiness to attack from the very first delivery, particularly in powerplay overs. His left-handed batting combined power with innovative strokeplay. Jayasuriya's approach guided Sri Lanka to World Cup triumph in 1996, transforming ODI cricket's strategic style. His legend transcends statistics—he transformed teams' approach to dealing with limited-overs opening spells. Hashim Amla (South Africa) - 27 Centuries Image Source : Getty Images Hashim Amla's 27 centuries are a reflection of traditional method combined with modern-day scoring rates. His 155.09 rate is a reflection of unbelievable consistency, while his strike rate of 100.12 is evidence of excellent boundary-spotting without being reckless. What marked Amla out was unfazed temperament and silky smooth acceleration once foundations were established. His style was textbook, relying on timing rather than brawn. Amla was the fastest to set all sorts of ODI records, demonstrating his consistent brilliance. Despite setbacks like form slumps and injuries, he possessed professionalism and integrity throughout his glorious career. Chris Gayle (West Indies) - 25 Centuries Image Source : AFP Chris Gayle's 25 centuries were characterized by battering power-hitting that demoralized bowling attacks worldwide. His average of 179.44 speaks volumes for super conversion of starts into high scores. Gayle's 215 vs. Zimbabwe showed annihilative skills when founded. Distinguishing him was towering height, immense power, and easy boundary-clearing ability. His strike rate of 103.39 showed cautious aggression finding a middle ground between risk and reward. Although cricket in West Indies was plagued with several challenges, Gayle was steady, mesmerizing millions with pyrotechnic batting and charismatic personality that rendered him world-wide popular. Also Read | Top 10 Openers with Most Centuries in Test Cricket David Warner (Australia) - 22 Centuries Image Source : Getty Images David Warner's 22 centuries illustrate forceful opening well-adapted to modern cricket. His strike rate of 109.41 reflects relentless boundary-hunting intent. Warner's 179 against Pakistan displayed sheer dominance potential. What separates him is aggressive frame of mind from very first ball—never permitting bowlers simple rhythms. His success in T20 elevated his ODI game with inventive shot-making. Despite ball-tampering suspension struggles, his return was huge mental resilience. Warner's partnerships with Aaron Finch formed cricket's most destructive opening combinations, providing Australia explosive openings constructing match-winning platforms. Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - 21 Centuries Image Source : Associated Press Quinton de Kock's 21 centuries exemplify explosive left-handed batting combined with wicketkeeping brilliance. His strike rate of 108.47 testifies to aggressive intent. De Kock is distinguished by the feature of how easily he can blend wicketkeeping obligation with opening obligation—both necessitating complete concentration. His batting encompasses powerful cuts, drives, and pulls mercilessly dispatching loose deliveries. Even though South Africa's team performances were inconsistent, de Kock sustained personal greatness characteristic of him being among modern cricket's finest openers. His Test retirement gave limited-overs priority, and thus, potentially more centuries to his remarkable total. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) - 21 Centuries Image Source : Associated Press Tillakaratne Dilshan's 21 centuries were accompanied by innovative strokeplay and remarkable consistency. His record-breaking average of 211.50 demonstrates exceptional conversion ability. How Dilshan was different from everyone else was inventing the "Dilscoop"—chivalrously sweeping fast bowlers past the wicketkeeper for boundaries. This shot embodied his carefree approach disregarding conventional reasoning. His strike rate of 99.96 reflected effective boundary-finding without jeopardizing the wicket. Dilshan's versatility extended beyond opening—bowl off-spin expertly and field magnificently. His experience and leadership helped guide junior players through Sri Lanka's transition periods. Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) - 20 Centuries Image Source : AFP Saeed Anwar's 20 centuries were a textbook epitome of left-handed batting during the 1990s. His average of 176.61 reflects his consistency during the 1990-2003 period. Anwar's 194 against India was the record ODI individual score for many years. What made him different was classical technique complemented by effortless acceleration ability. His cover drives and cuts were super elegant, with impeccable timing. Although personal tragedies taint his career, Anwar was professional and graceful. His 91.80 strike rate, humble as it may seem today, was excellent in his era when ODI cricket was marked by lower scoring rates. Also Read | Top 10 Fastest Centuries in Women’s ODI Cricket History Sourav Ganguly (India) - 19 Centuries Image Source : RCB Sourav Ganguly's 19 centuries told of brutal left-handed batting combined with inspirational leadership. His stunning average of 200.08 tells of remarkable conversion rates. What made Ganguly different was his bold style—never hesitating to take on confrontation or challenges. His cover drives and cuts off-side were some of the most elegant strokeplay in cricket. Ganguly's captaincy transformed Indian cricket's mind set to attacking cricket. Instead of being dropped in a controversial manner, his determination led him to return even stronger, showing his class and mental toughness time and again throughout his illustrious international career. Conclusion These ten openers have defined the pace of ODI cricket's evolution in their remarkable century-hitting achievements. Their overall 278 centuries are a reflection of sustained brilliance in different times, playing conditions, and bowling attacks. From Tendulkar's classical mastery to Sharma's modern dominance, each had their own forte in opening batting without compromising phenomenal consistency. Their approaches varied vastly—from Jayasuriya's charge-style revolution to Amla's sophisticated tradition—demonstrating that there can be multiple styles at the pinnacle. What united them was better hand-eye coordination, game awareness, and ability to play under tremendous pressure. Each century entailed impeccable performance against world-class bowling, demonstrating technical excellence combined with mental steel. These myths have led millions of cricketers worldwide to pursue opening batsmanship for all its inherent requirements. Their feats may be broken one day as cricket continues evolving, but their addition to the sport's rich fabric is imprinted in time eternally. They proved opening in ODI cricket, as much as it demands sublime skills, offers unparalleled opportunities for greatness and immortality in cricket's rich history.