Top 5 openers in IPL 2014

Be it any format Test, ODI or Twenty-20, getting a good start from your openers is always crucial as it without any doubt gives you an advantage in the game to proceed further towards a win. Particularly when the team is chasing a total, as per the old saying, Well began is half done, it provides an easier target for the rest of the batting order if the openers can get big runs at a quick pace.Staying consistent in the shortest format is not easy and here we havea glance at the openers who have made a huge impact for their respective franchises with their bats that too consistently throught this IPL 2014.Players who nearly made this list: Aaron Finch, Shikar Dhawan, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Karun Nair.The opening pair of Sunrisers has been inconsistent and scores at less than the strike rate of 120 which is average for their standards. Virender Sehwag has been making good starts but lack of big runs and match winning performances pushed him out of this list. Gautam Gambhir started off with 3 ducks and a single which is never going to be enough to compete with this list. David Warmer has just opened in a single match so far.

#5 Lendl Simmons

Making a late entry in top 5 is West Indian Lendl Simmons, who has overtaken the likes of Karun Nair and Aaron Finch for the No. 5 spot with his stupendous form.

The 29-year-old Trinidadian, a late addition for Mumbai Indians in place of Jalaj Saxena who injured his finger, Simmons became the first centurion of IPL 7 when he smashed a 61-ball hundred against Kings XI Punjab. It was in fact, his higest score in T20 cricket.

In 5 matches so far, Simmons has accumulated 280 runs at an average of 70 and a strike rate of over 130, including 2 half-centuries and a century. Mumbai have won 3 out of those 5 matches, and Simmons has played a crucial role.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane

The man who has his idol – Rahul Dravid, as his mentor at Rajasthan Royals has been making fine knocks at the top of the batting order. With a text book technique and a risk free playing style he still gets runs at a good strike rate. The 25-year old when he gets in, ensures that the team reaches the point where they can win the match without much difficulty.

With the highest score of 72 he has accumulated more than 300 runs this season in 11 innings.

#3 Brendon McCullum

The New Zealand captain who announced the IPL to the world with the earth shattering innings in 2008 hasn’t been a regular player at the top for a long time but in this season he has grabbed his chances with both hands. Together with his new partner Dwayne Smith, he has been the pillar of strength for the Super Kings who might miss the experience of this man when he leaves for New Zealand for the birth of his child.

With 380 runs this season, the fast handed stroke-maker has done exactly what is required of him.

#2 Dwayne Smith

The big-hitting West Indian who has been in fine touch last season for Mumbai was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings at the auction. The team opted for a fresh pair at the top and is reaping rich rewards for the money invested in this right handed batsmen. With 5 half centuries he currently holds the record alongside David Warner as the batsman with most number half centuries this season. Going after the spinners he has 29 sixes to his name, next only to Glenn Maxwell.

Many of you would ve expected him at the top of our standings but a slight dip in the number of runs lately has pushed him down a place.

#1 Robin Uthappa

The Karnataka batsman who had an average season at the start of the IPL, has been in the destructive mode since moving to the top of the order and is producing eye catching shots in the powerplay. The ability to find the gaps at will added with the effortless lofted strokes down the ground the 28-year old is definitely making some loud noise on the ears of the national selectors. At 489 runs at the moment, he averages above 40 and is placed higher than Dwayne Smith in the Orange Cap standings.

After making some impressive performances at the domestic level even though suffering from re-occuring hamstring injuries; the way he is shouldering the Knight Riders innings at the moment, Uthappa deserves to be at the top of this standings.