3 Indian middle-order batsmen who went on to become great openers 

Indian cricket team has had the luxury of having some great and tenacious openers who have contributed to its much celebrated and eventful history. The openers have ranged from the calibre of the stubborn resistance of Sunil Gavaskar to the bold strokes of Virender Sehwag to the monk-like concentration of Murali Vijay.

This display of immaculate technique and scrupulous concentration at the top, helped India immensely in shaping its batting renaissance at the turn of the century. It was the time when the openers laid the right foundation at the start of the innings which paved the way for the other batsman to consolidate India's position to that of the dominating team in the match.

This change led to many triumphs overseas and home alike, where India used the right amount of guile and also a touch of refreshing candour to outmanoeuvre the opposition. These victories would not have been possible without the openers who themselves were not the ideal candidates but rather a gamble that worked wonders for both the team and the individuals.

So here are three such great openers who once batted in the middle order but transformed themselves into colossal batsman once they got promoted up the order.

---

#3 Rohit Sharma

England v India - 1st ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

There is no better sight in world cricket today, especially in limited overs cricket, than to watch Rohit Sharma playing the pull shot on the front foot with his usual nonchalance and a hint of disdain in his follow through when he sees the ball before dispatching it to the stands. While this has now become a frequent sighting to behold, it wasn't as regular before he started to open for the Indian team.

This becomes the most evident when we look at his numbers before and after opening. He scored 2 centuries and 12 fifties batting in positions from #3 to #7 at an average of 26.8 and a strike rate of 76.49.

RECORD BEFORE OPENING: 79 INNINGS/ 1967 RUNS/ AVG:26.8/ 2 100's/ 12 50's/ STR:76.49 /HIGHEST:114

These less than ordinary numbers changed to extraordinary once he started to open for his country in the victorious Champions Trophy campaign, where he scored 177 runs in 5 matches at an average of 35. While the numbers were still ordinary, but 2013 was the first time he completed 1000 runs in a calendar year and he has not looked back ever since.

RECORD AFTER OPENING: 104 INNINGS/ 5250 RUNS/ AVG:57.69/ 18 100's/ 24 50's/ STR:92.22 /HIGHEST:264

The drastic change in his batting approach and ability to stay at the crease for longer periods of time, moulded him into a batting behemoth with his current numbers matching up to his ability.

CURRENT RECORD: 183 INNINGS/ 7217 RUNS/ AVG:47.17/ 20 100's/ 36 50's/ STR:88.06 /HIGHEST:264

#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag was the 2nd batsman in the world to score a double century in ODI cricket:219

The legendary pairing of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly was more than enough to keep any other opener out of the team, let alone a batsman who did not even open for his state team. But much like Dhoni's move to open the innings with Rohit, it was Ganguly who promoted Virender Sehwag to open the innings for the then India team alongside Tendulkar.

This move which came at the cost of Ganguly's batting position, paid dividends in the longer run, which was greatly influenced by Sehwag Test heroics as an opener. The move achieved its full attainment in the 2011 World Cup where Viru scored a boundary off the first ball of every innings he batted in barring the final game of the tournament.

RECORD BEFORE OPENING: 33 INNINGS/ 755 RUNS/ AVG:18.39/ 1 100's/ 3 50's/ STR:86.07 /HIGHEST:114

Virender Sehwag will always be remembered for his intimidatory strokeplay and the devil may care attitude that made Indian team a formidable side to beat.

RECORD AFTER OPENING: 212 INNINGS/ 7518 RUNS/ AVG:36.50/ 14 100's/ 35 50's/ STR:104.71 /HIGHEST:219

CURRENT RECORD: 245 INNINGS/ 8273 RUNS/ AVG:35.06/ 15 100's/ 38 50's/ STR:104.33 /HIGHEST:219

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is undoubtedly the greatest opener to ever play the ODI format

Sachin Tendulkar, arguably the greatest ODI batsman of all-time, had modest beginnings in the limited overs format. The unrivalled impact that he created in the format, is probably second to only Sir IVA Richards.

While he has 49 ODI centuries to his name, it is still debated how many centuries would he have added to the record tally if he had opened the innings for India much earlier than when he did in his 70th match for his country.

RECORD BEFORE OPENING: 112 INNINGS/ 3116 RUNS/ AVG:29.37/ 4 100's/ 21 50's/ STR:84.32 /HIGHEST:140*

He pl a whirlwind knock of 82 runs off just 49 balls in a stiff chase of 149 runs on a green seaming track in Auckland in March of 1994. After that innings, he became a different player altogether.

RECORD AFTER OPENING: 340 INNINGS/ 15310 RUNS/ AVG:48.30/ 45 100's/ 75 50's/ STR:88.05 /HIGHEST:200*

After being made to open the innings on a consistent basis, Tendulkar gave India many more highs than lows and was also instrumental in making the Indian team a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

CURRENT RECORD: 452 INNINGS/ 18426 RUNS/ AVG:48.30/ 49 100's/ 96 50's/ STR:86.24 /HIGHEST:200*