Top 10 Openers with most runs in ODIs

5. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 8920 runs:

A thrusting Jamaican left-hander Gayle has intimidated most bowling attacks he has come up against. In 248 matches as an opener, he scored 22 tons and 46 half-centuries at an average of close to 40. The explosive opener has the ability to decimate the figures of even the thriftiest of opening bowlers. And in this era of big hitting, Gayle is a batsman who has thrived like no other. His long reach helps to get to the pitch of the ball and he creams deliveries over the infield with utter nonchalance. But he is pretty formidable square of the wicket as well. He made his maiden ODI double hundred this year in the ODI World Cup match against Zimbabwe. Arguably Gayle is perhaps the hardest hitter of the cricket cherry.