‘Ganguly and Tendulkar had an average…’ - Aakash Chopra hails Rohit Sharma-Shubman Gill as best ODI opening pair

India’s opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill has been one of the biggest strengths of the team in ODI cricket over the last few years. The duo has consistently provided solid starts at the top, helping India dominate opposition bowling attacks across conditions. 

While Rohit has taken the aggressive route and put pressure on bowlers from the outset, Gill has played the perfect supporting role. The youngster has anchored innings when required and has chipped in with consistent scores, making the partnership one of the most successful in world cricket.

Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra recently praised the pair and called them the best opening combination in ODI cricket at present. Highlighting their impressive numbers, Chopra pointed out that the Indian duo has a better average than several legendary opening pairs.

“Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma’s opening partnership, it is right now the greatest pair in ODI cricket. We are talking about more than 2,000 runs. I am looking at the average. Theirs is 63.8, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy had an average of 58.4, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes had an average of 52.6, and Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar had an average of 49.3,” the former India opener on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’.

Chopra further highlighted the consistency shown by the pair and the number of big partnerships they have stitched together for India.

“They have scored 2,360 runs, and have 14 fifty-plus stands and seven century partnerships. So, this is the modern-day best opening combination in terms of the average. That actually is a good story,” he added.

The former opener also spoke about Rohit Sharma’s remarkable achievements and the milestones that are within his reach. Chopra noted that the Indian captain continues to add to his already impressive legacy in international cricket.

“Rohit Sharma is only six runs away from becoming the first Indian opener to score 16,000 international runs. That is some legacy. He is only one century away from moving clear of Sachin Tendulkar for the second place on the all-time list of international hundreds as an opener. Rohit Sharma is at that stage of his career where he will keep creating or breaking records,” he concluded.

The highly successful opening pair of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma is likely to reunite during India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting on June 13.