Thread :
Virender Sehwag Vs Rohit Sharma

Who is the better ODI opener ?

(Long Thread. Read at your own risk)

#RohitSharma #VirenderSehwag

Will Compare them on the basis of

1. Overall Record
2. Away Record
3. World Cup Record
4. Longevity

Some Prerequisite :

I will Calculate the Batting Index Number on Basis of Cricinfo's formula That is Average + 0.425*StrikeRate

Defining time periods in which they started to open the Innings to ending

Sehwag's Era: 26 July 2001 - 3 Jan 2013
Rohit's Era: 18 Jan 2011 - Present

1. Overall Record :

Mean Batting average & SR of Openers in Sehwag's Era:
Average - 32.53
SR - 77.59

Mean Batting average of Openers in Rohit's Era:
Average - 35.48
SR - 83.65

Mean Average Ratio - 35.48 / 32.53 =1.09
Mean SR Ratio - 83.65/77.59 = 1.07

Sehwag's Stats -
Average - 36.49
SR - 104.72

Normalizing to Rohit's era, His stats would be

Average - 36.49*1.09 = 39.77
SR -104.72*1.07 = 112.05

Stats: Rohit Sehwag
Average 58.11 39.77
SR - 92.26 112.05

Batting Index Number :

BIN of Sehwag: 39.77+0.425 * 112.05 = 87.39
BIN of Rohit : 58.11+0.425*92.26 = 97.32

97.32 > 87.39
So,
Rohit > Sehwag

2. Away Records

In Away matches,
Mean Batting Average & SR of Openers in Sehwag's era
Average - 31.39
SR - 76.86

Mean Batting average & SR of Openers in Rohit's Era
Average - 33.77
SR - 83.05

Mean Average Ratio - 33.77/31.39 = 1.076
Mean SR Ratio - 1.08

Sehwag's stats in away matches -
Average - 37.62 SR - 104.37

Normalizing to Rohit's era
Average - 37.62 * 1.076 = 40.48
SR - 104.37 * 1.08 = 112.72

Rohit's Stats :
Average - 46.26
SR - 83.74

Batting Index Number :

BIN of Sehwag - 40.48 + 0.425 * 112.72 = 88.39

BIN of Rohit - 46.26 + 0.425 * 83.74 = 81.85

88.39 > 81.85
Sehwag > Rohit

3. World Cup

Mean batting average & SR of Openers in Sehwag's Era:
Average - 32.53
SR - 78.26

Mean batting average & SR of Openers in Rohit's Era:
Average - 35.46
SR - 86.14

Mean Average Ratio - 35.46/32.53 = 1.09
Mean SR Ratio - 86.14 / 78.26 = 1.10

Sehwag's Stats in WC
Average - 37.27
SR - 103.54

Normalizing to Rohit's era
Average - 37.27 * 1.09 = 40.62
SR - 103.54 * 1.1 = 113.89

Rohit's Stats in WC
Average - 65.20
SR - 95.97

Batting Index Number

BIN of Sehwag = 40.62 + 0.425*113.89= 89.02

BIN of Rohit = 65.20 + 0.425*95.97 = 105.99

105.99 > 89.02
Rohit > Sehwag

4.Longevity

Sehwag played 212 ODI innings as an opener while Rohit played 138 innings
(Which is 65.09 % in number of ODIs of Sehwag's)

Conclusion :

1. Overall: Rohit > Sehwag
2. Away: Sehwag > Rohit
3. World Cup: Rohit > Sehwag
4. Rohit played 65 % no. of matches of Sehwag's

This is just statistical interference, I am not saying who is better.
Judge yourself "Who is better" ?

RTs are appreciated