3 Teams That Have The Most Aggressive Openers In IPL 2020: Opening the batting is a specialized job in cricket. It is an art that not many have been able to master with ease. It requires a special type of skill that only a few possess in their armory. And it gets even more crucial as the format gets shorter. As a result, in the T20 format, opening the batting is a huge task as it is the opening pair that governs the pace of the innings. They set the platform for the following batsmen to exploit it to their advantage.
Even in the IPL auction 2020, it was quite palpable that each of the franchises was quite keen on having enough back-up options for their preferred opening combination. With all squads ready for IPL 2020, here is a quick look-in to which three teams fancy an edge over the rest of the teams in terms of their opening combinations for IPL 2020:
1. Mumbai Indians
Available Options: Rohit Sharma, Chris Lynn, and Quinton de Kock
The defending champions had a much-settled opening pair in Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock last year. The explosive duo of de Kock and Sharma did wonders for MI’s campaign last year and was one of the reasons that they could lift their fourth IPL title. Mumbai struck gold after they acquired the services of Proteas’ wicket-keeper batsman ahead of the IPL 2019.
Even this year, MI made a bargain buy after Lynn was brought at his base price of INR 2 crores in the auction. The inclusion of Australia’s ballistic opener will provide the Mumbai-based franchise with a great back-up to either of their openers.
2. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Available Options: David Warner, Jonny Bairstow Kane Williamson, and Wriddhiman Saha
Sunrisers Hyderabad is fortunate as they boast the likes of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow as their two frontline opening batsman to start for them in any IPL game. The two openers were at their best in the last IPL season and allowed SRH with the strong opening partnerships on most occasions. Warner, who was the Orange Cap holder in 2019, at times played second fiddle to Bairstow, who was in scintillating form for the Orange Army.
SRH has the most successful opening partnership in the entire IPL season last year, The two openers played with a new brand of cricket to slaughter bowling attacks from the onset. The presence of Kane Williamson and Wriddhaiman Saha as two healthy back-up options is a luxury to have for any franchise.
3.Royal Challengers Bangalore
Available Options: Aaron Finch, Parthiv Patel, Devdutt Paddikal, Virat Kohli, and Joshua Phillippe
Royal Challengers Bangalore had a mediocre season last IPL and among their many problems was the failure of their openers. Except for Parthiv Patel, none of the players could make an impact at the top of the order. And as a result, RCB was rather keen on roping in a quality opener in their team. Their quest for a destructive batter culminated in the form of Australian skipper Aaron Finch.
Finch, who is one of the best T20 players going around in the cricketing circuit, will surely enjoy his time playing at smallish home ground in Bangalore. It is highly likely that Finch will open the batting alongside Parthiv in IPL 2020, who was in great form last year. Virat Kohli can also open the batting in case of any injuries. In Devdutt Paddikal, RCB has one of India’s domestic sensations along with Joshua Phillippe, who has been highly talked about for his T20 exploits in recent times, as back-up to their first-choice openers.
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