With the thirteenth edition of Indian Premier League almost upon us, we have started weighing in the options in every department of our team. Spanning from those muscular hard-hitters to those tactical giants, we are thinking about everything good about the franchise that we can.
Like the way others are imperative to a team’s aspirations of making it big, openers play an extremely crucial role in giving a proper start to their side. From giving a blistering start in the powerplay to create a proper platform for the finishers to go around with their job, the openers can very easily spark the difference in a game.
We will sneak a peek into the opening options of each of the franchise for the imminent domestic extravaganza.
- Delhi Capitals
Probable options: Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw
With Jason Roy opting out of the fray, it is quite an easy call for the Delhi management to start with Dhawan and Shaw as they are an extremely dynamic duo on the field. With both housing the power to switch routes between air and ground, they have aggression rooted to themselves and Dhawan’s expertise of playing in big games, provides a bleeding edge to the partnership.
With Rahane coming into the scene, in case if these two fail, the diminutive Indian batsman can pull off a decent knock or two, thereby steadying things for the Capitals.
- Kolkata Knightriders
Probable options: Tom Banton, Sunil Narine and Shubman Gil
As Chris Lynn has moved out to Mumbai Indians, they will have another less option to choose from. Sunil Narine and Shubman Gil will be the likeliest contenders as they have shared amazing chemistry between themselves. However, Tom Banton can be a perfect replacement for Chris Lynn, given his terrific hitting flair and his towering stature.
It may just happen that in an attempt to change things for the good, the management may push Karthik to the top in order to shake things up early, exploiting the fielding restrictions, given the skipper’s hard-hitting prowess.
- Rajasthan Royals
Probable options: Robin Uthappa, Jos Butler and Yashashvi Jaiswal
Jaiswal is a debutant and hence there may be a wee bit of reluctance from the Royals management to push him straight at the league of the big guns. However, given Jaiswal’s track record and his fearlessness, it won’t be a reckless choice either.
Uthappa and Butler will be the best picks as the duo have been in the circuit for a good deal of time and have played phenomenal roles for their respective nations whenever the situation demanded.
- Chennai Super Kings
Probable Options: Faf Du Plessis and Shane Watson
Watson has been the tournament’s most successful opener and can have a devastating impact upon the bowlers once he gets going. He is known for those huge hits that he can inflict on the bowlers at any stage of the innings.
Faf Du Plessis is one of the most underrated foreigners to have played for IPL. He can steer the ball around to various corners of the park with a simple flick of his wrists and when he chooses to take on the bowlers, he can be a ruthless aggressor destroying opponents at will.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore
Probable options: Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Parthiv Patel and Joshua Philippe
The likeliest contenders to open the innings for Bangalore will be Philippe and Padikkal, given a perfect blend of calm and the storm. However, Aaron Finch can be the trump card, in case if he gets going. He is a big hitter of the cherry and with the fielders inside the circle, he can make a show of them with exemplifying pyrotechnics.
Parthiv Patel will be the least favourable option as the diminutive wicketkeeper is way past his prime and more importantly, his prime was nothing great either.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
Probable options: David Warner and Johnny Bairstow
The opening is the only thing that Hyderabad can boast of in their ranks apart from Rashid Khan. Warner and Bairstow are absolutely lethal in their approach and can unfurl a lot of damage on their opponents at the beginning of the innings.
Much to add to their glittering batting, these two also holds the record of the highest opening partnership in Indian Premier League.
- Mumbai Indians
Probable options: Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav and Chris Lynn
The defending champions of the trophy have the most number of options in their ranks as they will be able to rotate the batting between Sharma, de Kock, Yadav and Lynn, effectively.
De Kock will be an automatic choice given his past bond with the club. The question is who will play the partner to the South African wicketkeeper.
Sharma will like to preserve himself for the number three position which will leave Yadav with the option of either opening the innings or coming at number four, in case if the Indians opt for the dynamic Lynn to open the innings.
- Kings XI Punjab
Probable options: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal
Without a second thought, Chris Gayle will always be the first pick, given his title of “the universe boss”, and the man next to him will be another devastating hitter, KL Rahul. Known for the fastest half-century in IPL and also being the next best batsman in the Indian squad right after Kohli, Rahul is an absolute treat to the eyes.
Mayank Agarwal will be more of a contingency plan in case of an unfortunate ouster of anyone from the tournament.
