India’s Future Openers: There is little doubt that Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have been two of the best openers for quite some time. The duo has been almost inseparable in the ODI format since the 2013 Champions Trophy. Most of India’s success in ODI cricket has been built on their partnership with Virat Kohli coming in at number 3.
2023 ODI World Cup:
The ODI World Cup in 2023 is expected to be the last hurrah for both the openers. Sharma being the captain is an automatic choice but Dhawan still has to push for a spot. KL Rahul has often come in as opener quite frequently in case of rest or injury to either of them. India though doesn’t need to ponder over opening options in the future. This is one department where there is a huge surplus.
We rank India’s future openers options:
#7 Abhishek Sharma
There was always a lot of buzz surrounding Abhishek Sharma. Yuvraj Singh who hails from the same state always spoke highly about him. But it wasn’t until this IPL season that the world started knowing about him. Sharma came into own as an opener playing for SRH. There is a lot of potential that needs further tapping.
#6 Devdutt Padikkal
He lit up IPL 2020 with his special talent. Devdutt Paddikal raced off to blazing starts in the powerplay. He eased of the pressure on renowned international batsmen like Kohli and Aaron Finch. Padikkal scored his maiden IPL century in the next season in 2021. But switching to RR bought in mixed results for the youngster. He has the old world elegance of a left-hander. A quality so rare in modern times.
#5 Ruturaj Gaikwad
He became only the second batsman to win both the orange cap and the IPL in 2021. Ruturaj Gaikwad was expected to reach greater heights immediately. But a disappointing IPL 2022 has seem to have affected his confidence. He looked all at sea facing quality international bowling. Gaikwad is too talented to lose out on opportunities.
#4 Yashasvi Jaiswal
Only one among the list to turn his arm over, Yashasvi Jaiswal started off being a genuine allrounder. He was the player of the tournament in U-19 World Cup 2020. Jaiswal cemented his place in the IPL in 2021. He showed that he has got the power game. Jaiswal went one better in 2022 keeping up with the likes of Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson. He is definitely one to watch out for.
#3 Ishan Kishan
He is the fourth left-hander on this list. Ishan Kishan had a breakthrough IPL season in 2020. He soon made his India debut in 2021. But he couldn’t really cement his place in the team. The Indian team though continues to show faith in Kishan. He made a sparking 93 against a full-strength South African bowling attack. He is certainly in the mix when it comes to the Indian team.
#2 Prithvi Shaw
Arguably the best batter in domestic circuit, Prithvi Shaw is in the league of his own. He is one of the most fearsome players in domestic and List-A cricket. Shaw is the kind of opener that Indian team needs. He matches consistency with his aggressive brand of cricket. Shaw should certainly be one of the first names post the ODI World Cup in 2023.
#1 Shubman Gill
If there is one batsman who is head and shoulders above everyone on this list then it is Shubman Gill. The player of the tournament in U-19 World Cup 2018, Gill has always shown that he belongs.
He played one of the finest knocks down under at Gabba helping India seal a historic series win. Gill has already proven himself in the ODI format. He is someone who needn’t even wait for the ODI World Cup 2023 to make his presence felt.
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