IPL 2020: 5 legends who might not get to bat at their preferred opening slot

#2 Robin Uthappa

Can Robin Uthappa find his middle order mojo again?

Robin Uthappa revitalised his career at the top of the order for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by forming a productive partnership with Gautam Gambhir, but in recent IPL seasons, he has been demoted in favour of the Chris Lynn-Sunil Narine tandem. The Karnataka-born batsman's run-scoring also immediately took a hit, and he has been a shadow of the Orange Cap winner he once was.

At the Rajasthan Royals (RR), who have a solid opener in Jos Buttler and other options in Yashasvi Jaiswal, Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson, Uthappa might not get to open the innings. The Jaipur-based franchise have a rich history of promoting young Indian talent, and even the consistent Samson could be made to bat at No. 3 in favour of Jaiswal, pushing Uthappa further down the order.

While the 34-year-old hasn't had much success lower down the order, the added responsibility that he will have to undertake in a youthful RR team might see him elevate his game to the standards it was once at.

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#1 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest white-ball openers of all time

MI skipper Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest white-ball openers the game of cricket has ever seen but in a stacked top order, even he might come in at No. 3. New signing Chris Lynn is one of the most destructive openers the IPL has ever seen, and the Australian could form a lethal opening partnership with Quinton de Kock.

Both Lynn and De Kock are perfectly suited to the opener's role, and would be wasted elsewhere. Rohit, on the other hand, has batted in the middle order for both the Indian team and the Deccan Chargers. Moreover, he has also batted at the position for MI in the past and could make the sacrifice to allow his overseas players to bat where they are most comfortable.

Irrespective of where Rohit, De Kock and Lynn bat, it is safe to say that the trio makes up perhaps the IPL's most fearsome top order.

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