IPL 2019: Best possible opening pairs in each team
The Indian Premier League enters its 12th edition in 2019, and as always there will be some surprises in store for the fans this time, as it has always been over the last 11 years.
While the consistent players in the top order and the sloggers in the middle overs are important to any team especially in a long tournament like IPL, but it is the correct opening combination is the factor in changing the outcome of the game.
In a T20 league like the IPL, it is vital to find the right opening batsmen for your team as they are the ones who hold the key in laying a platform for the middle and lower order to capitalize on.
Successful teams in the past have had good opening combinations that can tarnish any opposition bowlers like David Warner, and Shikhar Dhawan, Brendon McCullum, and Dwyane Smith.
Let's look into the opening pairs which each franchise can select for this edition of the IPL.
#8 Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw
The IPL trade window just before the Auction saw the Southpaw from Delhi being traded from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Delhi Capitals, and in the process making this return a homecoming.
This trade made sure that one of the budding talents from India, Prithvi Shaw will be opening the innings with the experienced Shikhar Dhawan. This pair not only helps the Delhi Capitals but also the Indian cricket on the whole as the youngster can watch how the professional in Dhawan goes about things.
The IPL has seen lots of destructive opening pairs in the past, and this pair promises to be one among them. With middle order consisting of Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Colin Ingram, it is safe to say that Delhi is one of the main contenders for this year's IPL trophy.