Analysis of India's openers for the upcoming Test series against England

The upcoming Test series against England will be a real Test for the Indian openers against an experienced English seam attack. The openers will lay the foundation for a strong start which will help the middle order to carry on the momentum and score big runs in England.

While the Indian opening batsmen have tasted success in the subcontinent, they have struggled to cope with the seaming, swinging and pace friendly conditions outside the subcontinent in recent past.

India have three opening batsmen in their squad namely Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul.

Vijay and Dhawan have opened for India in 39 innings and have scored 1679 runs at an average of 44.18. However the average drops considerably to 25.45 outside the subcontinent and West Indies which shows their vulnerability in bowling friendly conditions.

Vijay and Rahul scored 472 runs in 20 innings at an average of 23.55. The average drops to a dismal 18.80 outside the subcontinent and West Indies.

Dhawan and Rahul average 65.55 in 9 innings. However, none of the said innings have been outside the subcontinent and West Indies. Hence there is not much to read into the said average of 65.55.

The above statistics clearly reflect that Indian openers have really struggled in conditions especially in England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and hece India have struggled to win Tests at the said places.

Here is a detailed individual analysis of the three Indian openers i.e. Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul:

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Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay is the most experienced opener in the current Indian Test team

Murali Vijay is almost a certainty to open the batting for India in the first Test at Edgbaston. In the 2014 series against England, the right handed opener started the series with a brilliant 146 at Trent Bridge in the first innings and followed it up with a half century in the second innings.

An innings of 95 in the second innings at Lord's in the second Test helped India to win the Test. However, he could not carry the momentum in the next three Tests which India lost.

In 10 innings in the 2014 series, the opener from Tamil Nadu scored 402 runs at an average of 40.02 with a century and 2 half centuries.

Having scored runs against England in the past, Vijay will have the confidence of scoring big runs this time against Anderson and Co. Vijay is into his 10th season of international cricket and has the experience of facing the new ball in alien conditions all over the world.

Vijay has the technique and temperament to succeed in English conditions and will be the key for India's success in the 5 match Test series.

Vijay averages 47.02 at home in 49 innings and 35.11 in 48 innings away from home.

An overall Test average of 40.7 in 97 Test innings reflects that Vijay has been consistent when it comes to scoring runs in Tests. His record at home is more impressive than his away record and Vijay will look to improvise his average while playing away from home.

Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan averages 20.33 in 6 Test innings in England

Having bagged a pair in the practice match against Essex, Dhawan will be competing with KL Rahul for the opening position.

The left-handed opening batsman from Delhi has a dismal record away from home against England, Australia, and South Africa.

In the 2014 Test series against England, the left-handed opener really struggled and played only 3 of the 5 Tests and in the 6 innings in that series, he was dismissed thrice by James Anderson. An average of 20.33 in 6 innings in England does not elude much confidence for Dhawan.

In the Australian tour that followed the England tour in 2014, Dhawan averaged 27.83. He has struggled against South Africa in South Africa and in 6 innings in the rainbow nation and has averaged just 18.

With no centuries in England, Australia and South Africa, Dhawan has never looked to be comfortable in bowler-friendly conditions in Tests.

If Dhawan gets an opportunity to open in the series against England, he will look to replicate his success in the limited overs cricket in England at the Test level too.

An overall average of 43.94 in 50 Test innings does not reflect his dismal performance as mentioned above. Dhawan will look to improve his record and cement his place as an opener in Test matches away from home too.

KL Rahul

Rahul is yet to play a Test in England

Rahul started the 2018 tour of India's tour of England with an unbeaten century in the T20 at Manchester.

However, he lost his place in the ODI team for the third ODI and will compete with Shikhar Dhawan for opening the innings with Murali Vijay.

Rahul has not played a Test in England and will be tested by Anderson and Broad if and when he gets a chance to open the batting for India.

The 26-year-old opener from Karnataka has only played a handful of games outside the subcontinent in his short Test career. He started his Test career against Australia and in his second Test, he scored a hundred at the Sydney cricket ground.

Rahul had a dismal time against South Africa early this year and in 4 innings, he managed to average only 7.50.

Rahul has an average of 40.86 in 38 Test innings, but most of the runs have been scored at home and in Sri Lanka.

Rahul has been impressive for India at home in Tests and has played well for India in T 20s too. If given an opportunity, he would look to grab it with both hands and cement his place at the top of the order as the first choice opener for India.