IPL 2019: Rating the Best Possible Opening Combinations of all the 8 IPL Teams

Rohit Sharma is all set to Open for Mumbai in IPL 2019

Opening batsmen of any IPL team play the most crucial role in scoring quick runs in the power-play and set the tone for the rest of the batters to come. It is for this reason that most teams decide to play their best players as openers in the league.

KL Rahul had a dream season for Punjab last time around and he will be looking forward to replicating the same performances in the upcoming season of IPL as well. David Warner is all set to return for Hyderabad while Shikhar Dhawan will be looking to prove himself in his homecoming for Delhi.

A lot of thought goes into deciding the opening combination of the team right from the auction and here we are comparing the possible openers that can be opted by the eight IPL teams for the IPL 2019 season:

#8 Rajasthan Royals

Jos Buttler will be a key player for RR in early stages of the tournament

Possible Openers:

Ajinkya Rahane
Jos Buttler
Rahul Tripathi
Manan Vohra
Sanju Samson
Liam Livingstone

The opening Combination of Ajinkya Rahane & Jos Buttler provided RR a much-needed boost as soon as Buttler was promoted as an opener in the last IPL season with the latter piling up runs at will. Buttler will look to continue his form through to the 2019 season and give quick starts while the skipper Rahane would look to play the anchor's role.

Also Read: IPL 2019: Ranking the middle order batsmen of the 8 IPL teams

But the opening combination runs the risk of losing Jos Buttler midway for International duties. Once he leaves, it is likely that either Manan Vohra or Rahul Tripathi will partner Rahane. But, the psychological edge that Buttler provides cannot be matched by either Vohra or Tripathi.

Sanju Samson can also open the innings for Rajasthan but is unlikely to do so as his presence will be preferred in the middle-order by the team. Using Liam Livingstone as an opener can also be an option for the Royals once Buttler leaves, but it remains to be seen how the Englishman adapts to the Indian conditions.

Overall Verdict - While the opening Combination of Ajinkya Rahane & Jos Buttler looks solid on paper, the risk of losing Jos Buttler midway looms large which can result in a musical chair being played for the vacant spot.

Rating: 3/5