IPL 2018: 5 most unlikely openers seen in the IPL

In a game of such small margins, teams often have to make unconventional choices. In case of the IPL, it is particularly true, due to the cap on the number of overseas players a team can play in an eleven. Hence, experiments and quirky moves are par for the course.

However, the opener’s slot is something that teams are loathed to experiment with for obvious reasons. It is the launch pad that teams need but IPL team have sent in opening batsmen that seemed unlikely at the time.

Some of them turned out to be successes and even turned into regular openers. On the other hand, some were temporary in nature. Here is a look at 5 of those openers.

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#5 Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar was the only option left for RCB

The Indian fast bowler can hold his own with the bat when he is required to bat but, no one quite expected Praveen Kumar to open the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore, back in the first edition of the IPL in 2008.

It was perhaps a testament to the horror season they ended up having that year.

Due to the injuries suffered by some of the batsmen, RCB had no other option but to send in their fast bowler Praveen Kumar to open the innings with Wasim Jaffer in the game against the Delhi Daredevils.

Considering the fact that Delhi had made 191, it was a bold move. Kumar hit one boundary and lasted five deliveries before being dismissed by Glenn McGrath. He made 6 runs, and although, RCB tried gamely, they ended up losing by 10 runs.

#4 Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi will play for the Rajasthan Royals this season

The Ranchi-born Maharashtra batsman was known as a steady, technically sound middle-order batsman, and had not even appeared in the inter-state T20 games, when Rising Pune Supergiants picked him up for a bargain.

However, that was not the only break that Rahul Tripathi got. However, when the IPL came along in 2017, he was surprisingly asked to open the batting.

At the time, the regular cricket watcher must not have even heard of him, and many might have thought that it was another hair-brained move by a franchise that had fared poorly the previous year.

However, Tripathi’s promotion proved to be a masterstroke, as he became one of the most consistent players in the IPL last season and helped the team reach the final. In the 2018 auction, he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs.3.4 crores (Pune had paid Rs.10 lakhs for him).

#3 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine scored one of the fastest fifties when he opened against RCB

When Sunil Narine opened the innings for the Melbourne Renegades in the 2016-17 Big Bash League season, everyone perhaps thought it was just another experiment.

It did not end up being an exact disaster, but no one quite expected him to open the innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. After all, the KKR squad had openers like Robin Uthappa, captain Gautam Gambhir, and Chris Lynn.

However, KKR did exactly that and, with great success in last year’s IPL. He was a spare wicket and could bat as he pleased.

Additionally, he had the basic game to throw his bat around and get runs quickly. He first opened in a game against the Kings XI Punjab and scored 37 off only 18 balls.

From then on, he opened in many games and in fact, ended up getting a 22 ball 50 against the Royal Challenger Bangalore when KKR were chasing 159 for victory.

It was an incredible move but, it worked and it remains to be seen if Narine gets the nod at the opener’s slot this year.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin could not make a real impact

Now, the Indian off-spinner is a highly capable batsman and has often scored very useful runs for India in Test cricket throughout his career.

However, there is no doubt that Ravichandran Ashwin is not quite the opening batsman a T20 team should be looking for.

MS Dhoni is known for unconventional steps, and in a game at the Eden Gardens against the KKR in 2012, he promoted the off-spinner to the opening slot.

It was, of course, an experiment he could afford since the KKR had only managed to score 119. There was a widespread surprise when Ashwin came in to bat along with Mike Hussey, but he did not exactly set the Eden Gardens on hire.

He made 11 in 13 balls and hit 2 boundaries. The Chennai Super Kings chased the target down but, Ashwin was never seen in that slot again.

#1 James Franklin

James Franklin opened the innings with Sachin Tendulkar for Mumbai

Former New Zealand batsman was an important cog in the wheel of the Mumbai Indians back in the day and, had generally been deployed as a lower middle-order batsman.

However, there was one time when the Mumbai Indians decided to give the opener’s slot to James Franklin and although it must have come as a big surprise to everyone, the left-handed batsman actually did brilliantly.

In a game against the Kings XI Punjab, back in the 2012 season of the IPL, Mumbai Indians chose to bat first and, surprised everyone by sending in Franklin, along with Sachin Tendulkar.

The left-hander tucked into the Kings XI bowling and hit 79 runs off 51 deliveries, to help Mumbai score 163. He hit 6 fours and 4 sixes. However, Kings XI managed to chase it down comfortably in the end, thanks to an unbeaten 68 from Shaun Marsh.