Rating the Indian openers ahead of the 2019 World Cup

India set to play nearly 50 ODIs before the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, they certainly have plenty of time to find the right formula that will help them get over the line in the United Kingdom. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are undoubtedly the first-choice opening pair for India in ODIs.

Their recent record in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 merely highlights just how well they complement each other at the top of the order. However, they aren't just the only options that India have at the top of the order. Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane combined beautifully during the recently-concluded tour of West Indies in the absence of the rested Rohit.

And that is before even mentioning the likes of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. So here is a report card of India's list of options at the top of the innings and where they stand and what they bring to the table.

Shikhar Dhawan - 8/10

Dhawan has been incredibly consistent in ODIs

A career average of nearly 45 and a strike rate of over 90 in ODIs for an opener are numbers that would ordinarily merit a selection in most ODI teams. But such is Shikhar Dhawan's ability to polarise opinion that his place in the side is still questioned at times. And yet, this is the same player, who finished the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 as the leading run-getter and averaged in excess of 50 in his only World Cup.

Dhawan's ability to turn up the heat when the pressure is on, whether it is to do with his place in the side or in a crunch game for India is never in question. When it comes to crucial games, Dhawan is only bettered by Virat Kohli, in terms of ability to get going. But the problem with him seems to be his performances when the stakes aren't so high.

Over 3,500 runs at an average of almost 45 shows that could only be a misconception as you can't have such a high average without performing on a consistent basis. And the fact that he has scored at least one ODI hundred each year since 2013 shows that he is capable of playing the long innings and not just giving his side a fast start.

Rishabh Pant - 6/10

Despite his inexperience, Pant is another option India could try

Of late, barring Shikhar Dhawan, India have seldom gone for specialist openers at the start of their ODI careers. Rohit Sharma started in the middle-order before moving up the order, it has been the same for Ajinkya Rahane. KL Rahul has bucked this recent trend and the Indian side could do worse than try out another talented youngster at the top of the order.

Rishabh Pant has already made his T20I debut but even there, he played in the middle-order. And while it is true that he has played just under a dozen List-A games in his career, he has shown that he has the potential to shine in international cricket. Much like how Quinton de Kock was given a chance early in his career, to open the innings in ODIs, Pant deserves one as well.

If there is one area of concern for India, especially in ODIs, it is their lack of an aggressor at the top of the order. Both Dhawan and Rohit like to take their time and as a result, while there is usually a solid platform, to begin with, the powerplay isn't made utmost use of. And that is where the explosiveness of 19-year-old Pant becomes an advantage and the fact that he provides a left-right combination with Rohit means that he certainly deserves a chance before the World Cup.

Ajinkya Rahane - 8/10

Rahane has become incredibly consistent over the last two years

There is no one questioning Ajinkya Rahane's place in the Test side. He is arguably India's best Test batsman and is first-choice in the middle-order irrespective of the conditions. However, when you turn to the shorter formats, the answer isn't always clear-cut. Rohit and Dhawan are seen as the first-choice openers and Rahane always becomes the bridesmaid.

While there is a right-left combination with Rohit and Dhawan, the numbers aren't as clear cut as some may think, when you look at Rahane and Dhawan in ODIs over the last two years. The right-hander is the back-up opener in ODIs but numbers certainly indicate that he is good enough to be the first choice along with Rohit Sharma.

One of the reasons, long attributed to Rahane's inability to nail a starting spot has been his ability to rotate strike and also score not as freely as modern openers should. However, one look at the numbers since the 2015 Bangladesh series shows that Rahane has not only scored more runs than Dhawan in the same period in ODIs, but also done so at a higher average and only a slightly inferior strike rate.

So, perception is the only thing that is standing in Ajinkya Rahane's path as he looks to cement his place in the side. Given his lack of big-hitting, he isn't as easy on the eye and perhaps that is one of the reasons why he hasn't got a consistent run as opener when both Rohit and Dhawan have been fit.

KL Rahul - 7/10

Rahul needs to work on his fitness if he hopes to break the Dhawan-Rohit partnership

KL Rahul got off to the perfect start to his ODI career, a century on debut, a feat no Indian had achieved before him. But since then a combination of injuries and the return to fitness of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has meant that he has only played six ODIs in total. However, even in those games, he has an average in excess of 50.

His only three ODIs in 2017, all came against England and things didn't really go according to plan. However, he does have all the shots in the book and some that aren't in the book as well. His performance in IPL 2016 showed that he is capable of scoring quickly and big as well. All he now needs to do is ensure that he is fit on a consistent basis.

If there is one thing that has hindered his progress in the ODI side, it has been his fitness, which has reduced the number of appearances he has made. And that is one area where he will look to improve in the hope of breaking the settled opening pair of Dhawan and Rohit and getting a place in the ODI side ahead of the World Cup.

Rohit Sharma - 9/10

Rohit is one of the best limited-overs openers in the world right now

If there is one player whose position in the ODI side is not under threat anytime soon, it is Rohit Sharma. Certain players are just suited to playing certain roles and ever since Rohit was moved up the order to open the innings, he simply hasn't looked back. Since 2013, when he became the full-time opener, his numbers are simply sublime.

In every year since 2013, Rohit has averaged at least 50 in the calendar year each year. His strike rate has been above 85 in every year barring one during that time and he has also scored seven centuries and two double centuries during that time. In that same period, he has established himself as one of the best limited-overs openers in the world and is undeniably India's best opener.

Although he tends to start off slowly, the fact that he can catch up at the end means that the longer he bats, the better it is for India. Barring injuries, he is undoubtedly India's first-choice opener and the real question in front of the management is to look at who will be his partner in the 2019 World Cup in England.