10 middle-order batsmen who became great openers

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Dilshan evolved into a completely different batsman in 2009.

Pre-2009, Dilshan was one of the many bits and pieces cricketers in the Sri Lankan line-up, trying to provide some solidity to the team that banked on individual brilliance to succeed. With Jayasuriya's form waning, the Lankans required experience at the top of the order. Dilshan had been part of the team for a decade now, but it was time to step up. And he did it in style.

He struck an unbeaten 137 in only his third innings as an opener and followed it with a series of huge scores in all three formats. That year, he made 2568 runs at an average of 55, also inventing the quirky Dilscoop in the process. He also went on to become the highest run scorer in the 2011 World Cup and still continues to play for the side in T20Is and ODIs.