5 players who could open the batting for India

DISCLAIMER: The opinions in this article are solely the author’s and not necessarily those of Sportskeeda.

As the saying goes, “Well begun is half done”; but a good beginning now seems like a dream for team India. Their openers have miserably failed to give a strong start to the team in all forms of the game – ODIs, Tests and T20s. If we look at the last 5 Test matches played by India, in 9 innings, 385 runs for the first wicket have been scored by the Indian openers at an average of 42.77, which is a very low score for ‘word-class’ players; and in last 5 ODIs, the Indian openers have scored a mere 148 runs for the 1^st wicket at an average of 29.6 runs per match. These figures clearly indicates that the Indian selectors have failed to select a good opening pair.

There are many players who have the ability to open and give a good start to the team, but the selectors are still relying on their old pair, which has failed considerably in last few months or so. Now, let’s take a look through some of the players who could be great openers for the country and get a good opening partnership for team India.

Wasim Jaffer:-

Wasim Jaffer is a prolific opening batsman from Mumbai and is one of the strongest contenders for the Indian test team. Being one of the highest run getters in the Ranji Trophy, Jaffer has played only 31 Test matches for India. He has scored 1944 runs and has 5 centuries in his short international career. Jaffer has also played 211 first class matches and has scored 16230 runs. He is one of the best opening batsmen produced by the country, and due to his classy batting style, was usually compared to Mohammed Azharuddin. Jaffer has scored 2 double centuries opening for India with 212 being his highest score.

Let’s take a look at Wasim Jaffer’s stats:-

	MATCHES	RUNS	AVERAGE	100’s	HIGHEST
TEST’s	31	1944	34.10	5	212
ODI’s	2	10	5	0	10
FIRST-CLASS	211	16230	51.85	48	314*
T20	23	616	28.00	0	95

Robin Uthappa:-

Robin Uthappa is an attacking opening batsman from Karnataka. Uthappa is also one of the strongest contenders for the Indian team. Starting his international career on high note, Uthappa scored a brilliant 86 on his debut. Uthappa has a tendency to attack the bowlers at the start of the innings which makes him a good opening batsman. Despite being such a prolific hitter of the cricket ball, Uthappa has played only 38 one day internationals matches for India and has scored 786 runs at an average of 27.10, and has scored 5 fifties playing as an opening  batsman. Robin Uthappa is surely one of the most talented players produced by the nation, who has good potential to open the batting.

Let’s take a look at Robin Uthappa’s stats:-

	MATCHES	RUNS	AVERAGE	100’s	HIGHEST
ODI	38	786	27.1	0	86
T20I	11	168	18.67	0	50
IPL	75	1538	26.98	0	69

Naman Ojha:-

Naman Ojha is a hard hitting opening wicket-keeper batsman from Madhya Pradesh. Naman Ojha has played only one ODI for India in which he failed. Ojha first came into limelight when he played an attacking innings of 96 for India Green in 2008-09 challenger trophy. He has the ability to provide a good start against any type of bowling attack, which he proved in the 2008 Challenger trophy. Ojha has played 91 first class matches and has scored 5589 runs at an average of 38.28. Naman Ojha, being such a wonderful player, deserves one more chance to play for India and open the batting at the international level.

Let’s take a look at Naman Ojha’s stats:-

	MATCHES	RUNS	AVERAGE	100’s	HIGHEST
ODI	1	1	1	0	1
T20I	2	12	6	0	10
FIRST CLASS	91	5589	38.28	9	214*

Shikhar Dhawan:-

Shikhar Dhawan is a left hand opening batsman from Delhi. He has played 5 ODIs for India and has scored 69 runs at an average of 13.80. Dhawan first came into limelight when he was adjudged Man of the series in 2003 U-19 World cup. Dhawan is one of the most consistent performers for Delhi in the Ranji trophy. In 2007-08 Ranji trophy, opening the batting for Delhi, Dhawan scored 570 runs in 8 games to guide Delhi to their Ranji title. Dhawan has played 81 first class matches and has scored 5679 runs at an average of 43.93. Being such a prolific opener and good hitter of the ball, Dhawan has proved himself to be a suitable reserve opening batsman for the Indian side.

Let’s take a look at Shikhar Dhawan’s stats:-

	MATCHES	RUNS	AVERAGE	100’s	HIGHEST
ODI	5	69	13.80	0	51
T20I	1	5	5	0	5
FIRST CLASS	81	5679	43.93	10	155*

Ajinkya Rahane:-

Ajinkya Rahane is a right-handed opening batsman from Mumbai. Rahane is one of the reserve opening batsmen in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy along with Shikhar Dhawan. Rahane has played 16 ODIs for India and has scored 404 runs at an average of 25.25. Rahane first came into limelight when he scored a brilliant 172 in the 2007-08 Duleep trophy. Rahane is one of the most consistent performers in the Ranji trophy, but the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have kept him out from the Indian batting line-up. He is one of only 11 batsmen to have scored 1000+ runs in a single Ranji season. Rahane has played 60 first class matches and has scored 5460 runs at an average of 62.04. Despite of being such a prolific run-getter, he has always been overlooked and has had to warm the bench.

Let’s take a look at Ajinkya Rahane’s stats:-

	MATCHES	RUNS	AVERAGE	100’S	HIGHEST
ODI	16	404	20.25	0	91
T20I	7	174	24.85	0	61
FIRST CLASS	60	5460	62.04	19	265*

Here are a few combinations that I feel would work for Team India:

Tests:-

1) Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag.

2) Wasim Jaffer and Shikhar Dhawan.

3) Virender Sehwag and Shikhar Dhawan.

ODI:-

1) Robin Uthappa and Ajinkya Rahane.

2) Naman Ojha and Shikhar Dhawan.

3) Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan.

T20:-

1) Virender Sehwag and Robin Uthappa.

2) Ajinkya Rahane and Robin Uthappa.

3) Naman Ojha and Robin Uthappa.

My Ideal Opening Pair For All Formats:-

Virender Sehwag and Shikhar Dhawan.