After all the delay that was caused in staging the IPL last year, owing to the pandemic situation in the country, the upcoming season of the IPL is all set to be conducted in its usual April-May slot once again. All the squads are looking formidable on paper, posing a real challenge to pick the ideal XI from them and then make sure that the potential transforms into match-winning performances. Since it is the opening combination that dictates the outcome of a match, franchises would look to fix it first and then move onto the other departments. In the below piece, we predict the opening combination for each team in IPL 2021:
1. Mumbai Indians – Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock
One of the most successful opening pair in the history of the IPL, Rohit and de Kock complement each other pretty well at the top of the order. The latter as was witnessed during IPL 2020, was thrust with the responsibility of playing the aggressive brand of cricket and taking the attack to the opposition, while the former playing second fiddle to him.
In this way, they provided the side with flying starts and made the most of the powerplay overs, going a long way in dominating the fixture and thus the tournament.
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Azharuddeen
A brand new opening combination for RCB is set to take its form in IPL 2021. Padikkal, who is a sure shot opener for the side after his impressive performance in IPL 2020, is likely to be paired with Kerala’s rising cricketer, Mohammed Azharuddeen at the top of the order.
Both being young and naïve, carry no baggage and thus can play with freedom without worrying about the other aspects of a game. Their free-flowing batting will ease the pressure off Kohli and de Villiers, who too can play their natural game and propel the ‘Red Army’ to daunting totals on the board.
3. Rajasthan Royals – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Liam Livingstone
Just like RCB, RR too will be thinking of pairing these 2 dynamic openers, who are capable of giving the opposition a run for their money. Jaiswal, unfortunately, had a poor IPL 2020 and thus had to warm the benches for a major part of the tournament.
The upcoming season is an ideal platform for the Mumbai youngster to change his fortunes and justify the amount invested in him by his owners. While it is the other way round for Livingstone, who is coming off a brilliant season of BBL with the Perth Scorchers, helping them make the finale of the world’s second most followed league.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders – Rahul Tripathi and Shubman Gill
2 quality right-hand batsmen, each from Maharashtra and Punjab respectively seems to be the ideal opening pair for KKR in the upcoming season of the IPL. While Gill was the mainstay for them at the top of the order, Tripathi joined the mix halfway into the tournament.
After playing the role of a finisher in the initial few encounters, the KKR management pushed him up the order and bestowed him with the usual responsibility of opening the innings. Given Gill likes to bide his time initially, Tripathi’s attacking approach can come of great help to the team and take the pressure off his fellow opener, who too can join the kill once set.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad – David Warner and Wriddhiman Saha
The pair which changed the fortunes for SRH during the business end of the tournament, allowing them to qualify for the coveted playoffs are certain to start the competition as first-choice openers.
While all are aware of the attacking instinct possessed by Warner, it came as a pleasing surprise for the management and team supporters to see Saha go berserk at the top of the order, smashing bowlers all-round the park. His belligerent batting display added a certain spark in the SRH line-up, who looked invincible at one point during the league. If they can carry the same form in IPL 2021, a second title appears to be around the corner for them.
6. Delhi Capitals – Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan
The 2 Indian internationals, who began IPL 2020 as openers for DC, were soon parted as Shaw struggled with his form at the backend of the tournament. His failure compelled the management to bring Rahane and later Stoinis in the mix as openers, who did a decent job in the limited opportunities that came their way.
But, given this is a fresh season, we will yet again have Shaw and Dhawan shouldering the opening responsibilities for the side. While the latter had a dream season last time, it will be important for the former to put all the failures aside and bat in a manner with which he is identified, helping DC go one step further this time around.
7. Chennai Super Kings – Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad
The opening combination which featured in the last league game for CSK, stitching an invaluable partnership of 82 to help the ‘yellow army’ defeat the then KXIP to end the tournament on a high, looks likely to start as openers in the initial few encounters for CSK.
Both have been in red-hot form post IPL 2020, helping their respective sides in finishing on the right side of the line. The fact that they complement each other well and can bat according to match situations goes right for them and this rich blend of youth and experience is surely going to work wonders for CSK at the top of the order.
8. Punjab Kings – KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal
Karnataka teammates and now important members of the Punjab line-up, Rahul and Agarwal formed a potent opening combination for the newly named side at IPL 2020. Though their team struggled as a whole, the duo were always up to the task, fulfilling the responsibility of getting the team off to flying starts.
Their risk-free cricket became a headache for the opposition and more often than not put them in winning positions. Thus said, they will require the assistance of other frontline batsmen in the team to cross the line and augment the chances of securing their maiden title during IPL 2021.
