Rohit Sharma Sets New Pace Record for 10,000 ODI Runs as Opener, Overtaking Tendulkar

Rohit Sharma etched his name into the record books on Saturday, becoming the fastest batter to accumulate 10,000 ODI runs as an opener. He reached the milestone during India’s third and final ODI against the West Indies at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Resuming his innings on 9,998 runs, Sharma required just two runs to enter an exclusive club previously occupied by only three batters: Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Chris Gayle. By reaching the landmark in his 202nd innings as an opener, the India captain surpassed Tendulkar’s previous benchmark for the fewest innings taken to reach the five-figure mark.

Sharma is only the second Indian and the fourth player overall to achieve the feat. Tendulkar remains the leading run-scorer in the format as an opener with 15,310 runs in 344 innings, followed by Jayasuriya (12,740 runs in 383 innings) and Gayle (10,179 runs in 274 innings).

Elite Company for Sharma at the Top of the Order

The achievement caps a prolific series for the veteran opener, who registered a century in the second ODI and surpassed 12,000 career ODI runs earlier in the rubber.

Early Wobbles for India After Gill Opts to Bat

The milestone arrived amid a shaky start for the hosts after captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first. India lost two wickets in quick succession, with Gill dismissed for one and Virat Kohli bowled for a golden duck.

West Indies pacer Jayden Seales struck twice in consecutive overs. Gill was caught down the leg side by Shai Hope in the third over, and Kohli was clean bowled playing across the line with the very next delivery. Ruturaj Gaikwad joined Sharma at the crease as India sought to stabilize the innings.

India fielded a revised XI featuring three changes from the previous match, including an ODI debut for Anshul Kamboj. The hosts had already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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