4 openers who are not able to find a place in the Indian ODI team

India has become a vast pool of talent in the cricket. Every day new talents emerge from every corner of the country which has helped us to build a solid international team. We also have the IPL where we see lots of new young faces. It shows that India has a bright future in international cricket.

Today, India is facing a big challenge in accommodating these players on the team. We are finding it difficult to give these players the batting position in which they are comfortable. One such batting position is opening.

India currently has a stable opening pair in Dhawan and Rohit. They have scored big runs as partners for India. So, it becomes unthinkable for the team management to replace these players with a new face.

Here are the 4 openers who are not able to find a place in the Indian ODI team.

4. Mayank Agarwal

England Lions v India A - Tri-Series International

Mayank Agarwal is the new run machine in the domestic cricket. He has scored 2162 runs in 32 innings runs at an astonishing average of 67.56. From Ranji trophy to Vijay Hazare Mayank is scoring runs everywhere. It has become hard for selectors now to overlook him.

Mayank is doing everything in his power to get selected in the national team. He deserves a spot in the national side. Mayank is an attacking and a fearless opener like Sehwag. He even confessed in an interview that he idolizes Sehwag.

Today, India has a settled opening pair. Both Rohit and Dhawan are scoring runs constantly. Therefore Mayank is not able to cement his place in the Indian squad. Still, Mayank should not become hopeless as he has age on his side. He should focus on his game and wait for his opportunity. He will surely get his chance in the national side to showcase his talent.

3. Shreyas Iyer

England Lions v India A - Tri-Series International

Shreyas Iyer is an attacking top order batsman who is known for his fearless stroke-play. His constant domestic performances caught the eye of all IPL franchises. Shreyas Iyer was bought by Delhi Daredevil in 2015.

In his debut season, he scored 439 runs in 14 innings. Iyer opened for Daredevils in that season before he was injured and unavailable for the next season. Iyer also performed brilliantly in domestic where he averages 53.5 in first-class cricket and 37.34 in list A games.

Iyer was then given the chance to play for India. He played in the middle order for the team. He looked uncomfortable at the middle-order with his role. Iyer is not a pinch hitter, he is a batsman with fine technique who knows how to build his innings.

Shreyas Iyer is a good batsman but he can not bat lower than number 3 for the team. He just becomes the problem for the team in the middle order as he is not able to provide the required strike rate. Still, Shreyas is a good batsman and if in future if India ever needs a player in the top order, they should definitely go to Shreyas Iyer.

2. Ajinkya Rahane

ICC World Twenty20 India 2016: Semi-Final: West Indies v India

Rahane is a fine top order batsman who is technically very sound. He is a reliable opener who can create a solid foundation for the team. Rahane knows how to tackle pace and swing and he is a very fine player of spin.

He has twice crossed the 500-run mark for Rajasthan Royals as an opener. As an opener, Rahane is a fine prospect for India but India currently does not need openers.

Rahane was given a chance in the middle order for the national side. He even played a brilliant inning of 79 against South Africa in the World Cup in Australia which helped India in registering their first win against South Africa in the World Cup.

Since then Rahane is not able to play similar crucial innings for India in the middle order. He was then dropped from the team due to his uneven performances. The problem with Rahane is his batting style which is more effective in the opening powerplay overs.

He is a fine technical player who looks to find the gap in the field. He is not the big striker of the ball which is required in the middle order. You can not expect Rahane to score 100 runs in last 10 overs. Its sad a solid player like Rahane is not able to find his place in the Indian squad.

1. KL Rahul

England v India - 1st Vitality International T20

KL Rahul broke the headlines when he was picked at a whopping price of 11 crores by Punjab in the IPL auction. The Kings XI Punjab batsman justified his massive price tag by scoring 659 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 158.41. He also scored the fastest IPL fifty of all time - off just 14 balls this year.

KL Rahul is an extremely talented batsman who is known for his mesmerizing shots and impeccable technique. He is an aggressive power-play striker who has the ability to hit the shots all over the ground. The problem is that most of his runs were scored as an opener.

Although Rahul scored a wonderful hundred against England in the first T20I at number 3. He was lacklustre after that inning in the middle order. He was then dropped in the third ODI. Rahul has found it difficult to adjust himself in the middle order. Team management has given him chances in the middle order but he has failed to convert those chances into good results. As Rohit and Dhawan are performing in the opening, it is difficult for team management to give Rahul the opening slot.