IPL 2018: 5 batsmen who can take up the opening duties for Mumbai Indians

With IPL being just 20 days away, the hush-hush would have begun in the camps of all the franchises, and all the franchises would be looking forward to covering all the bases.

The defending champions, Mumbai Indians, undoubtedly, will enter the eleventh edition of IPL as one of the most successful teams in the history of the league. The strong batting and quality death bowling has been the feature of this team. Once again, Mumbai Indians would like to continue their scintillating form in the tournament.

Let us have a look at five batsmen who can fulfill the opening duties for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition of IPL.

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#5 Siddhesh Lad

Siddhesh Lad had a tremendous domestic season with Mumbai this year

The Mumbai-born batsman, Siddhesh Lad, has been one of the most promising talents in the domestic circuit. Lad has earned the tag of 'crisis-man' while playing for Mumbai in the long domestic season. Having scored 373 runs at a jaw-dropping average of 62.16, Lad had a fantastic Vijay Hazare Trophy this year. He was the fifth highest run-scorer in the 2017-18 season of Vijay Hazare Trophy.

In addition to that, this year, he a phenomenal Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too where he scored 271 runs at a strike-rate of 138.26 runs, and at an exceptional average of 38.71.

His exceptional performances in the domestic season earned him a 20 Lac deal with Mumbai Indians. In Siddhesh Lad, Mumbai Indians made a good investment as he happens to be the perfect top-order batsman who can chip in with vital runs at a decent strike-rate. With not much of experience in the top-order except Rohit Sharma, Siddhesh Lad would have an ideal chance to showcase his skills at the grand level.

T20 Numbers- Matches: 24 | Runs: 464 | Avg: 29.00 | S/R: 120.51

#4 Aditya Tare

Aditya Tare has served Mumbai Indians in the past too

Another Mumbaikar in the list is Aditya Tare whom we all remember for his famous-cum-crucial six against Rajasthan Royals in IPL-7 that helped Mumbai Indians make it to the last four from nowhere. However, Aditya Tare had a below-par Vijay Hazare Trophy this year but, he managed to hit form in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017-18 as he scored 145 runs at an astonishing strike-rate of 151.04, and at a decent average of 24.16.

His hard-hitting skills and a decent performance in SMAT 2017-18 bagged him a 20 Lac deal with Mumbai Indians. Apart from being a batsman, Tare is a wicket-keeper too. Thus, with no regular or experienced wicket-keeper in the side, the Mumbai batsman can hold up the duties for Rohit Sharma.

T20 Numbers- Matches: 84 | Runs: 1689 | Avg: 26.80 | S/R: 131.95

#3 Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan promises to be

big

affair in the upcoming edition of IPL

Another promising wicket-keeper on the list is the left-handed batsman from Jharkhand, Ishan Kishan. Alike, Siddhesh Lad, Ishan Kishan had an impressive domestic season as well. In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017-18, he scored 273 runs at a jaw-dropping average of 34.12, and an astonishing strike-rate of 145.98.

Ishan Kishan has been in the domestic fray for quite some time now. However, he hasn't been able to make it to a grand level. Thus, this time around, with Mumbai Indians as his base, he will have plenty of opportunities ahead of him. Mumbai Indians will be seeing him as a potential replacement for Parthiv Patel who has opened and kept wickets for MI in the past.

T20 Numbers- Matches: 41 | Runs: 919 | Avg: 22.97 | S/R: 124.18

#2 Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis would be a crucial player for MI in this year's IPL

Another left-handed batsman in the competition is a fiery opener from Trinidad, Evin Lewis. He is one of the few players with two or more hundreds in Twenty20 Internationals. He is the one West-Indian batsman whom India will always remember because of his brutal assault on the Indian bowlers. Lewis is now a regular opener for Windies, who either fill in for Gayle in latter's absence or bats alongside his idol.

MI will be looking at Lewis as a sure-shot opening option. Having opened so many times in Caribbean Premier League, he would like to do the same for Mumbai Indians this time around. MI would be looking around Lewis-Rohit as the opening combination. The reason for the same would be the skill-set that both the batsmen possess. Thus, of all, Lewis would be the perfect choice as an opener for MI in the upcoming edition of IPL.

T20 Numbers- Matches: 84 | Runs: 2657 | Avg: 34.06 | S/R: 146.06

#1 Rohit Sharma

Recently, Rohit Sharma crossed the 7000-run mark in T20 cricket

I must say Mumbaikars are dominating the list as we have another contender from Mumbai. Rohit's addition to the list should come in as no surprise. The Hitman is one of the kinds who will always feature in the all-time T20 XI of every cricket fan and pundit. He is the perfect blend of power, elegance, sagacity, and timing. As Virat Kohli always say, he is a second or two ahead of every batsman in the world.

With no Parthiv Patel, Jos Buttler, and Lendl Simmons in their ranks, Mumbai Indians will like Rohit Sharma to take the matter into his hands. For quite a while now, in IPL, Rohit hasn't been opening the innings for MI. However, this time around, with minimal experience in the top-order, we can expect Rohit Sharma to open the innings for MI.

T20 Numbers- Matches: 270 | Runs: 7030 | Avg: 32.39 | S/R: 132.66