4 IPL Batsmen who have been so impressive as opener  

In the T20 format of cricket, opening batsmen have different roles and responsibilities when compared with other formats of cricket. They have to score as many runs as possible in the power-play which might help the team to post big totals or to chase one.

They are expected to attack the bowlers right from the first ball itself and they have to put some pressure on the bowling side straight away. There may be field restrictions but it is not at all easy for openers to get the team off to a flying start in each and every game and it requires a special set of skills to do so.

Some players in the list were middle order batsmen in the previous editions of IPL and some were not used as an opening batsman for the first few matches in IPL 2018 even though they opened the innings for their teams in the previous editions of IPL. But, all of them proved their worth after being promoted as openers.

Let's take a look at four players who are all performing well after being promoted as openers in IPL 2018.

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#1 KL Rahul

In IPL 2016, Rahul played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and scored 397 runs (4 fifties) in 14 matches at a strike rate of 146.49. Rahul opened the innings for RCB in few matches in the absence of Chris Gayle but he also batted at number 4 in some matches.

KL Rahul missed IPL 2017 due to a shoulder injury. In 2018 IPL auction, Kings XI Punjab purchased him for whopping Rs 11 crore but Rahul has already proven his worth in the IPL 2018.

In IPL 2018, Rahul was provided with a permanent opener role by KXIP and currently, he is one of the best openers in the tournament so far. In 12 matches, Rahul has scored 558 runs (5 fifties) at a strike rate of 161.73.

After being promoted as an opener, Rahul scored the fastest fifty in the history of IPL (50 runs in just 14 balls) against Delhi Daredevils and his average in this edition of IPL is at 55.80 which is pretty much high for any batsmen in a T20 format.

#Jos butler

In IPL 2017, Mumbai Indians gave Buttler an opportunity to open the innings and he performed well as an opening batsman scoring 272 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 153.67. In the IPL auction 2018, Rajasthan Royals seized Buttler for 4.4 crores after a furious bidding war with MI.

In IPL 2018, Jos Buttler struggled to score runs in the middle and was asked to open the innings for RR after playing 7 matches. In the first match as the opener against Delhi Daredevils on May 2, 2018, Buttler blasted a brilliant half-century and scored 67 runs in 26 balls.

Jos Buttler has scored 509 runs in 12 matches at a stunning strike rate of 153.77 and at an average of 56.55 in the IPL 2018 so far.

#Ambati Rayudu

In IPL 2018, Rayudu scored 535 runs in 12 innings at an average of 48.63 and at a strike rate of 152.85. This is the best IPL season for Rayudu in terms of runs scored and this is the first time in which he scored more than 400 runs in an IPL edition.

On May 13, 2018, Rayudu also registered his first hundred in the IPL against Sunrisers Hyderabad and helped to chase the target of 180 successfully. After being promoted as an opener, Rayudu's game reached a new level and he earned himself a new nickname Ambati 'Baahubali' Rayudu.

#Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2011 but played only one match for MI during his association with the franchise (2011-13). In 2014 IPL auction, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Suryakumar and he played some memorable innings for KKR as a middle-order batsman between 2014-17.

SKY played at number 4 for the first couple of matches for MI in the IPL 2018 and in the match against Delhi Daredevils, Suryakumar Yadav was asked to open the innings and in the very first match as opener for MI, he blasted 53 runs in 32 balls at a strike rate of 165.63 which unfortunately ended in a losing cause.

In the IPL 2018, Suryakumar Yadav has scored 473 runs in 12 matches at an average of 39.41 and has scored 402 runs in 10 innings as an opener. Suryakumar has fitted pretty well in the opener role and he has been the only consistent performer so far for MI this season.