In the fast-paced T20I format, the batters need to score runs from the word go. The opening batters must use the powerplay to their benefit to set their team’s innings on a high note.
To do that, they must use aggressive tactics to boost the total and set the stage for the upcoming batters to have a go at the bowlers. Now there are high chances that the openers might lose their wickets while attempting risky shots, but if they consistently score runs, they might end up with a better average.
On that note, we’ll look at the top 10 openers with the highest batting average in T20I (min. 30 innings).
Highest Batting Average as Opener in T20I
| Player | Team | Innings | Runs | Average as Opener |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | 76 | 3162 | 51.83 |
| Karanbir Singh | Austria | 37 | 1713 | 50.38 |
| Jos Buttler | England | 70 | 2471 | 42.60 |
| Ramesh Satheesan | Romania | 33 | 1154 | 39.79 |
| Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming | Japan | 30 | 1072 | 39.70 |
| Brian Bennett | Zimbabwe | 40 | 1480 | 38.94 |
| Collins Obuya | Kenya | 31 | 968 | 38.72 |
| Phil Salt | England | 46 | 1542 | 38.55 |
| Sabawoon Davizi | Czech Republic | 34 | 1189 | 38.35 |
| Hristo Lakov | Bulgaria | 38 | 1150 | 38.33 |
| Tim Seifert | New Zealand | 50 | 1648 | 38.32 |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 87 | 2973 | 38.11 |
Key Insights on Leading Batting Averages by T20I Openers
Exclusive 50+ Average as Openers in T20Is
Pakistan’s keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Austria’s Karanbir Singh are the only openers who have a 50-plus batting average in T20I cricket.
Rizwan is the lone opener to remain not out in 15 or more innings in T20Is. This is the main reason behind his high average.
Karanbir is the only opener with an average above 50 and a strike rate above 150 in T20I cricket.
India’s Abhishek Sharma is the only opener with a strike rate above 180 in T20Is (minimum 500 balls faced).
Record-Holding High-Score Consistency
India’s dashing opener Rohit Sharma, who averaged 32.60, smacked five T20I centuries while opening the innings for India. This is the most centuries by a batter at a particular position in T20Is.
Rohit and Rizwan are the two openers who’ve hit more than 30 fifty-plus scores in this format.
T20I Opening Batting Career Totals
Rohit, Paul Stirling (Ireland), Muhammad Waseem (UAE), Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Rizwan, and David Warner (Australia) are the six openers with 3000-plus runs in T20Is.
Only Stirling averages below 30 among these six batters, while Rizwan has a strike rate below 130.
The above six batters and Babar Azam (Pakistan) have faced more than 2000 deliveries as openers in T20Is.
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