Over the years, there are many batsmen in the cricket world on whom the team management was convinced that they could play well when they face maximum deliveries. Maximum times, they were good as middle-order batsmen, but when they encouraged to open innings, they turned the match and became match-winners.
Here we look at five batsmen who have been elevated to open the innings and that had been a crucial moment in their careers.
Rohit Sharma (India)
In 2007, Rohit Sharma played his debut match. India boasted a secured top order and that resulted in Rohit Sharma batting down the order. He opened the batting with Gautam Gambhir during an ODI match against England in early 2013 and he scored 83 runs. He continued his new batting style and currently, he has a number of impressive records in limited-overs cricket.
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Sanath Jayasuriya is considered as the best opening batsmen. But he started to play good innings as a middle-order batsman. In 1993-94 before he promoted to the top-order batsman, the left-handed has batted as no 7. In the 1994 ODI match, he opened the innings with Arjuna Ranatunga against Pakistan and the rest is history.
Chris Gayle (West Indies)
The swashbuckling Windies batsman began his career at No.4 and at the outset of his international career batted as small as No. 7. He first opened against Zimbabwe in ODIs, scored 41 at Bristol in 2000. He managed to keep the role and in 2001 he sealed it with a brilliant century against Kenya.
Virender Sehwag (India)
At Bloemfontein, Virendra Sehwag started his debut at No 6 and scoring a century in his first Test innings. After that, he played 5 matches in the same position. In 2002 he was asked to open the innings at Lord’s. He went on to score 84 runs and in the very next match, he started on the trend with his second Test century. He proceeded to perform his position beautifully and for a very long time, he was a cornerstone of the Indian cricket team.
Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
Adam Gilchrist was very famous for his aggressive hitting and was given the No. 7 spot during his early days, where he was supposed to play in the end overs as a slogger. He was moved up the order in the Carlton & United Series fixture against South Africa in January 1998 and he scored a wonderful hundred in the very next match. Two matches later, he scored another century, and he never looked back after that.
