IPL 2018: 5 pinch hitting bowlers who can open the innings like Sunil Narine

India's most celebrated sports festival IPL is here and it is bigger than ever before. A thrilling encounter between MI and CSK followed by awe-inspiring batting performances by KL Rahul, 'opening batsman' Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Sam Billings have set the tone right for the rest of the tournament.

Last year Sunil Narine shocked everyone when he scored IPL's fastest 50 of 15 balls against RCB. This record was eventually broken by KL Rahul in this year's IPL. He scored a blistering 14-ball fifty against the Delhi Daredevils.

This year too, Sunil Narine has stormed into the tournament with his bat scoring 50 of 19 balls against Bangalore. Unlike Narine's bowling which is nothing less than a puzzle, his batting style is simple - see the ball, hit the ball.

He takes no time to take off and almost all the times gets his KKR side off to a flier. His performances with the bat are helping the KKR to register massive scores in the powerplays.

Let us see 5 such bowlers who can play a role like that of Sunil Narine.

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#5 Liam Plunkett - Delhi Daredevils

Liam Plunkett can hit a long ball

English pacer Liam Plunkett is Kagiso Rabada's replacement for Delhi Daredevils. Plunkett started off his career as a skiddy bowler who can bowl fast. However, in just his second ODI he displayed his batting potential by scoring a half-century against Pakistan in tough batting conditions.

He also has a Test 50 to his name. Whenever Plunkett has got the opportunity to represent England in the limited overs format and while playing domestic cricket he has shown that he can hit a long ball.

He competes directly with Tom Curran (who is playing for KKR) for his place in the national side. Thus, IPL would be a great platform to prove his mettle and he would be willing to put in extra efforts with the bat and ball.

It was Gambhir who promoted Narine up the order when he captained the KKR side. While captaining DD too Gambhir may pick Liam Plunkett for the same role.

#4 Harbhajan Singh - Chennai Super Kings

Harbhajan Singh has played many useful knocks for the Mumbai Indians

Once regarded as the terminator of Indian bowling line up, Harbhajan Singh is an expert at deceiving the batsmen. But as a batsman himself Bhajji strives hard not to get deceived and puts a heavy price on his wicket.

With 9 half centuries and 2 centuries in Tests Bhajji's love for batting has grown over the years. His blistering knock of 64 of just 24 balls against KXIP in IPL 2015 stands out amongst many handy knocks that he has played in the IPL.

His Test credentials and quick-fire IPL knocks prove his batting abilities. Playing under captain creative MS Dhoni for CSK, it would be entertaining to see Bhajji open.

#3 Chris Jordan - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Chris Jordan is a powerful batsman

The Barbadian who shifted to England on scholarship, Chris Jordan is not just a sharp-witted bowler but a very handy batsman as well. He can smash the ball out of the park at will. Jordan's batting against the bowling of Dwayne Bravo where he scored 26 of an over showed how hard and clean he can hit the ball. He also has a first class 100 to his name.

The English consider him as a brilliant death bowler and a batsman who can wield the willow like a blade. Although Wridhiman Saha as an opener is not a bad choice, Jordan can be tried on batting friendly wickets to make full use of the powerplay overs.

#2 Ben Cutting - Mumbai Indians

Ben Cutting was instrumental in SRH's IPL victory

The tall Australian fast bowler who is known for his steep bounce can use the long handle to hit the ball out of the park. Cutting's batting performances in IPL 9 while playing for SRH were instrumental in SRH lifting the trophy. His outstanding knock of 39 of 15 deliveries and bagging 2 crucial wickets guided SRH to IPL victory.

He has been in great touch with the bat in the first class games. In Big Bash too he was recognized and appreciated for his power-hitting. A knock of 46 off 20 against Perth Scorchers while playing for Brisbane Heat was one of the many useful innings that he played.

This year he is a part of MI and captain Rohit Sharma may be willing to try him like Narine at least at home i.e. Wankhede Stadium which is pretty small in size and pitch too is batting friendly.

#1 Jofra Archer - Rajasthan Royals

Jofra Archer could be as dangerous with the bat as Narine

West Indies seems to possess an unbelievable capacity to produce astonishing cricketers. These West Indians reign the IPL with their swag and style and make the tournament even more exciting.

After Dwyane Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell it's the time for the young West Indian Jofra Archer to unleash his talent. A menacing fast bowler who can rattle the opposition batting, Archer is also a dangerous batsman who can smack the ball.

His heroics in the Big Bash League with the ball as well as the bat while playing for Hobart Hurricanes gave him that global recognition and resulted in him being picked up by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL auctions for a whopping Rs. 7.2 crores.

If Archer and Ben Stokes both play then it would be good move to send Archer to open the innings to give RR a flying start as Stokes would play the role of a finisher.