Rating the Indian openers in Tests since Virender Sehwag

It is undoubtedly one of the toughest jobs to open the innings in the longest format of the game. We have seen some openers who have struggled to score runs in Tests. The case is not different for India as their openers are always struggling to face the new ball.

The Indian team has produced some of the greatest batsmen in the world but most of them have played in the middle order. India had struggled to find a good opener in Tests until Virender Sehwag made his debut in 2001.

After the arrival of Virender Sehwag, the Indian team went on to create some world records in the longest format of cricket. He had redefined the opener's role in the Test cricket. Sehwag, who could hit the bowlers from the very first ball, had smashed two triple-centuries in Tests and became the only Indian to do so. He single-handedly won many games for India in Tests.

Since Sehwag's debut, we have seen some players like Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund, and many others, who have opened the innings for India in Tests. But only a few have lived up to the expectations.

Let us have a look at the rating of the Indian openers in Tests since Virender Sehwag.

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#1 Gautam Gambhir - 7/10

England v India: 4th Investec Test - Day One

Gautam Gambhir has been one of the best Indian Test openers of all time. His initial stage was not up to the mark, but he made a strong comeback. With his consistent performances, he had cemented his place in the Indian team.

His opening partnership with Virender Sehwag is still one of the best opening partnerships in the Test cricket. He was in great form during 2008-09 and score centuries five consecutive matches. Gambhir also achieved number one spot in the ICC Test Batsman rankings.

As an opener, Gambhir scored 4119 runs in 57 games that he played at an average of 42.90. He has scored 22 fifties and 9 centuries in this format. Gambhir, who lost his golden form, is yet to retire from cricket and waiting for an opportunity to make an international comeback.

#2 Murali Vijay - 6/10

England v India: 1st Investec Test - Day One

Murali Vijay has been India's best opener for the last 6 to 7 years. He has an ability to hit the loose balls and leave the good deliveries. Vijay begun his career on a positive note against Australia.

With his excellent batting techniques, he has been successful in bouncy and swinging conditions like South Africa, Australia, and England. He has played many important knocks for India both in the home and away games.

But, he is not consistent like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

Vijay has scored around 4000 runs at a decent average of 40 in the 55 matches that he played as an opener. He has 15 fifties and 12 centuries to his name.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan - 6/10

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day Two

Shikhar Dhawan has been India's one of the best openers for the last five years. He made his Test debut back in 2013 against Australia and became India's fastest centurion on debut in this format as he went on to score 187 off just 174 deliveries.

With those aggressive innings against Australia, he had cemented his place in the longest format of the game. He was quick to show his class and established himself as one of the mainstays of Indian batting.

But, the Indian team has dropped him from the Test team as he is struggling to score against the moving balls. So far, he has played 34 games and scored 2315 runs at an average of 40.61. Dhawan, who has smashed 7 centuries to his name, has the best knock of 190 in this format.

#4 Abhinav Mukund - 3/10

England v India: 1st npower Test - Day Four

The Tamil Nadu skipper, Abhinav Mukund, who scored a lot of runs in the domestic circuit, made his Test debut as an opener in the absence of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in 2011. For his couple of good knocks in the West Indies series, he was included in the Test squad for the England tour in 2011.

But he did not live up to the expectations as he did not score many runs. He then returned to represent India A and scored a lot of runs in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy. Mukund last played for India was against Sri Lanka in 2017 and scored 81 which is his highest Test score till date.

Thus far, he has played 7 matches and scored just 320 runs at a poor average of 22.85. Mukund is not considered as one of the best Indian openers of all time because of lack of consistency.

#5 KL Rahul - 6/10

England v India: Specsavers 5th Test - Day Five

The Karnataka cricketer, KL Rahul, has been an important member for the Indian team in all forms of the game. With tons of runs in the domestic circuit and for India A, he made his Test debut against Australia in 2014. However, he had managed to score just 4 runs in his debut game.

He is among the most highly rated opening batsmen in India's next generation. Rahul can smash the bowlers out of the park with ease but his main problem is his inability to score runs in the swinging conditions. As a result, he is always in and out of the team.

Rahul, who has featured in 30 Tests, has played 27 games and scored 1720 runs as an opener. His average as an opener is 40.95 and he has five hundred with the best knock of 199 in Tests. He can be India's next big thing if he improves his couple of weakness.