6 makeshift Indian openers with Test hundreds

Rohit Sharma is all set to open the innings in the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Rohit is primarily a middle-order batsman who has tasted amazing success since being promoted to open in ODIs, and the Indian think-tank now wants to try him at the top in the longer format as well.

Rohit has so far played 27 Tests as a middle-order batsman and has three hundreds to his name at an average of a touch under 40. However, with Hanuma Vihari sealing the last remaining middle-order spot for now with an impressive showing in West Indies, the only option remaining for Rohit is at the top of the order. And that too has been created due to the continuous poor form of Lokesh Rahul.

The concept of makeshift opener is not alien to Indian cricket, and the strategy peaked during the 90s when there was a severe lack of options for the team management.

In this feature, we take a look at six makeshift Indian openers who have Test hundreds to their name.

#6 Deep Dasgupta

Deep Dasgupta

The former wicket-keeper played eight Tests for India, and in seven of those matches he opened the innings. He scored his only Test century during the Mohali Test against England played from 3 December 2001.

After Harbhajan Singh’s five-for kept England down to 238 in their first innings, Dasgupta led India’s response with a century. He faced 254 balls and hit 15 fours in his innings, and after making exactly hundred, was clean bowled by Craig White.

Dasgupta featured in a 136-run third wicket stand with Rahul Dravid (86). Sachin Tendulkar also contributed 88 as India posted 469 in their first innings. Anil Kumble’s six-for in the second innings then bowled India to a 10-wicket triumph.

Dasgupta’s career was cut short due to his poor glove-work, which earned him the nickname ‘Drop’ Dasgupta.

Also see – World Test Championship Schedule

#5 Nayan Mongia

Nayan Mongia

The 90s saw Nayan Mongia being sent in to open time and again, to try and take the shine off the new ball. Mongia opened in 15 of the 44 Tests he played. He did not have a great record with 655 runs at an average of 27.29.

However, in the one-off Test against Australia at Delhi played from 10 October 1996, the move paid off brilliantly.

After the spinners, led by Anil Kumble (4 for 63), restricted Australia to 182, Mongia responded with a marathon 152 that blunted the Aussie attack. His knock came off 366 balls with 18 fours and one six, and lasted close to 500 minutes. He was eventually bowled by Paul Reiffel.

Apart from Mongia, Sourav Ganguly contributed 66 as India were all out for 361. Kumble again starred with 5 for 67 in the second innings as Australia were restricted to 234 all out. India chased down the target of 56 to win by seven wickets.

#4 Manoj Prabhakar

Manoj Prabhakar

In the 90s, Manoj Prabhakar did everything the team management asked him to. He opened the batting, opened the bowling and, at other, times, batted in the middle-order. Prabhakar opened the batting in 23 of the 39 Tests he played for India, and ended up with a reasonable 958 runs at an average of 35.48.

Prabhakar’s only Test hundred came against West Indies at Mohali in a match played from 10 December 1994. After Jimmy Adams’ unbeaten 174 took West Indies to 443, India responded with 387 courtesy Prabhakar’s gutsy 120.

The all-rounder batted for 406 minutes and hit 16 fours during his stay at the crease. Batting at number 10, Javagal Srinath contributed an unbeaten 52.

Brian Lara made 91 in West Indies’ second innings and Adams and Keith Arthurton contributed 70s as the Windies set India 358 to win.

In the second innings, Prabhakar had to retire hurt for zero as a Courtney Walsh delivery hit him in the nose, and left him bleeding. A shocked India crumbled to a 243-run defeat.

#3. Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri was not the most talented cricketer around, but he made up for it with his tenacity. He even took up the challenge of opening the batting, and he ended up with rather impressive numbers at the top.

While Shastri’s overall batting average was 35.79 in 80 Tests, in 17 Tests as opener the same jumped to 44.04. Four of Shastri’s 11 hundreds came as opener.

His first Test hundred as opener came in a match against Pakistan at Karachi played from 30 January 1983. Shastri made 128 in a high-scoring draw.

His second hundred came in a losing cause at Lord’s in 1990 - the same Test where Graham Gooch was dropped in his 30s and went on to make that famous 333. Shastri had another hundred to his name in the same 1990 series in England - 187 from 436 balls at The Oval.

But his most memorable ton of all came in the 1992 New Year Test at Sydney, when he famously tore apart Aussie debutant Shane Warne en route to 206 off 477 balls. Shastri was man of the match for his effort in the drawn Test.

#2 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman

In a middle-order packed with superstars, VVS Laxman found it difficult to break in, and like some others during the 90s, was forced to make a career opening the innings. Laxman clearly did not enjoy his time at the top of the order. 685 runs in 15 Tests as opener at an average of 28.54 stands as authentic proof of his struggles.

His best effort as opener came in the 2000 Test against Australia at Sydney, when he creamed his way to 167.

With India trailing Australia by a mammoth 402 runs on the first innings, Laxman walked in to open with his career on the line. As the famous story goes, Laxman apparently told Sourav Ganguly while fielding that if he failed in the next innings, his international career might be as good as over.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Despite that one brilliant knock, it was as a stylish middle-order bat that Laxman made his indelible mark in international cricket, defined by the unforgettable 281.

#1 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag

So successful and destructive was Virender Sehwag as Test opener that it is easy to forget he wasn't a specialist at that position. The fact is that Sourav Ganguly and the team management decided to ask Sehwag to open as there was no place in the middle-order, and they didn’t want a talent like Sehwag to be wasted.

To say the move proved to be a master-stroke would be an understatement.

Sehwag went on to open the batting in 99 of the 104 Tests he played, averaging just over 50 with 22 hundreds. Apart from his debut hundred, all his other tons came as an opener.

Sehwag first opened in England during the 2002 tour. He got 84 at Lord’s followed by 106 at Nottingham. There was no looking back from that point.

Sehwag went on to slam two triple hundreds and a 293 in his illustrious career, the only player in history to do so.