By Kaif - Jun 23, 2025 06:41 PM
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Indian openers with the most 50+ scores in SENA countries: Indian team's experienced batsman KL Rahul is looking in great form. He hit the 18th fifty of his Test career in the second innings against England on Monday. With this, he achieved a big achievement. He became the joint second Indian opener to score the most 50+ scores in SENA countries i.e. South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia.
The 33-year-old batsman hit a half-century in 87 balls in the second innings. Earlier, he scored 42 runs in 78 balls with the help of eight fours in the first innings. With the 18th half-century of his Test career, KL achieved a big achievement. He became the joint second Indian opener to score the most 50+ scores in SENA countries. In this case, he equaled Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay.
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Sunil Gavaskar, popularly known as 'Little Master', is one of the greatest openers of Indian cricket. His 19 50+ scores, in just 57 innings, is a testament to his class and exceptional technique. In the 70s and 80s, when there were no equipment and facilities for batting like today and world cricket was dominated by deadly West Indies fast bowlers, Gavaskar bravely faced fast bowlers even without a helmet.
His concentration, patience and strong technique against the new ball on the bouncy pitches of the SENA countries were unmatched. He would not only give the team a solid start but also lay the foundation for big scores by playing long innings. This record of his remains untouched even today and will probably remain so for a long time, which shows how effective and consistent he was in these conditions. His performance was more than just statistics; it was inspirational and he set a benchmark for Indian batsmen.
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KL Rahul is a batsman who has played a vital role as an opener for the Indian Test team in recent years. Scoring 50+ scores 9 times in 42 innings, in which this figure is still going on, shows his ability. Rahul has shown a lot of maturity in his batting and he is no longer just a batsman who plays flashy shots, but also has the ability to play long innings.
His batting has a good technique and the ability to adapt to the circumstances. He has scored some brilliant centuries and half-centuries in SENA countries, which show his mental toughness and the will to score runs on fast pitches. His career is still going on, and the way he is playing, it can be expected that he will soon surpass Sehwag and Vijay and possibly come close to Gavaskar's record in the future.
Also Read: Top 3 Indian Wicketkeepers with the Most Test Catches
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Virender Sehwag changed the definition of opening in Test cricket. His 'Dekhunga Nahi, Maarunga' style was also seen in SENA countries. Scoring 50+ scores 9 times in 49 innings is commendable despite his explosive style. Sehwag's approach was always based on attack, and he often put the opposition bowlers under pressure with this mindset.
Even on the fast pitches of Australia or England, he batted with the same aggression, which reduced the chances of the opposition team taking early wickets and runs were scored quickly. Although there was risk in his style, but when he got going, he completely changed the course of the match. Sehwag's 9 50+ scores are proof that even though he may not have been as 'safe' as Gavaskar, he still contributed significantly to the Indian team in these difficult conditions with his style.
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Murali Vijay was a classical Test opener, known for his strong technique and patience. Scoring 50+ scores 9 times in 42 innings shows that he had the ability to stay and score runs in difficult conditions of SENA countries. Vijay displayed patience and concentration in his batting, which helped him take the shine off the new ball and tire out the bowlers.
His batting style was like Gavaskar, where he would let the bowlers play and hit only the bad balls. He scored some crucial centuries and half-centuries in these countries, helping the team get off to a good start. Although his form dipped a bit later, his record in the SENA countries reflects his credentials as a strong Test opener.
Also Read: IND vs ENG: Will England be able to chase 350 runs on the last day? See records
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