WTC Final 2023: Rohit Sharma only third India batter to complete 13000 runs across formats as opener

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WTC Final 2023: India captain Rohit Sharma on Saturday created history by becoming only the third India batter to complete 13000 runs across format as an opener. The 36-year-old joined legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in the ultra-elusive list.

The right-hand batter achieved the feat during India's second innings of the ongoing World Test Championship final (WTC final) at The Oval in London. Rohit is the second India opener from Mumbai after Tendulkar to cross the milestone mark.

Sachin Tendulkar scored 15758 runs as an opener across formats during his stellar career which lasted over two decades. Virender Sehwag scored 15335 runs and is only the second India batter to cross the 15000-run mark across all formats.

Rohit, who scored 15 runs in the first innings, scored 43 off 60 in the second. He now has a total of 13031 runs at an average of 46.20 in 295 matches as openers.

Sanath Jayasuriya (Asia and Sri Lanka) - 19298, Chris Gayle (ICC and West Indies) - 18867, Graeme Smith (Africa, ICC and South Africa) - 16950, David Warner - 16875, Desmond Haynes (West Indies) - 16120 - have scored more runs than Tendulkar and Sehwag as openers.

While Rohit joined Tendulkar and Sehwag in the elusive list, India are heading towards an improbable defeat in the WTC final 2023 after being set a 444-run target.