New Delhi: Rohit Sharma unlocked another major milestone in his illustrious career as he completed 16,000 runs as an opener in international cricket on Saturday,
June 13. Rohit achieved the elusive feat during the rain-curtailed first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. He became only the second Indian, after Virender Sehwag, to go past the 16,000-run mark as an opener in international cricket.
Rohit needed only 6 runs in the first ODI against Afghanistan on Saturday to complete 16,000 runs as an opener across all formats for India. He achieved the milestone in style with a six against all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai in the 3rd over of India’s 195-run chase in the 25-over-a-side match.
Rohit was dismissed on 16 off as many deliveries in the first ODI after suffering an unfortunate run-out. A mix-up between him and skipper Shubman Gill in the sixth over resulted in Rohit’s departure, but replays showed Gill’s way was blocked by the bowler Allah Ghazanfar, which forced the non-striker to abort the run, but Rohit was already halfway down the track and failed to make it back in time.
Nonetheless, the Hitman managed to go past the 16,000-run mark en route to his 16-run knock, joining Sehwag in an elite list. Rohit now has 16,010 runs to his name as an opener for Team India across all three formats. Despite having retired from Tests and T20Is, Rohit has a strong chance of surpassing Sehwag to claim the record for the most runs for India as an opener in ODIs.
THE MOMENT ROHIT SHARMA COMPLETED 16,000 RUNS AS AN OPENER…!!! 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/oKVu3j63of
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 13, 2026
He needs only 110 runs to go past Sehwag, who amassed 16,119 runs as an opener for India in 400 matches across formats. Rohit is in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup next year and can comfortably surpass Sehwag. With two matches remaining in the ongoing series, Rohit has a chance to do it against Afghanistan.
Rohit is the second Indian and the seventh opener overall to reach the landmark of 16,000 runs in international cricket. Former Sri Lanka batter Sanath Jayasuriya leads the elite list with 19,298 runs in 563 matches as an opener in international cricket.
Most runs as an opener in international cricket:
| Player | Runs | Matches |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 19,298 | 563 |
| Chris Gayle | 18,867 | 506 |
| David Warner | 18,744 | 462 |
| Graeme Smith | 16,950 | 421 |
| Desmond Haynes | 16,120 | 438 |
| Virender Sehwag | 16,119 | 400 |
| Rohit Sharma* | 16,010* | 384 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 15,335 | 342 |
| Tamim Iqbal | 15,210 | 451 |
| Alastair Cook | 15,110 | 374 |
Fastest to complete 16,000 runs as an opener
Rohit became the fastest batter to complete 16,000 runs in international cricket as an opener in terms of innings. The Hitman has managed to achieve the feat in 384 innings across formats, which is the fewest taken by any batter to reach the feat. He broke David Warner’s record, who completed the milestone of 16,000 runs in 390 innings in international cricket.
Innings taken for 16,000 runs as an opener in intl cricket:
384 – Rohit Sharma*
390 – David Warner
392 – Graeme Smith
393 – Virender Sehwag
415 – Chris Gayle
435 – Desmond Haynes
449 – Sanath Jayasuriya
