IPL 2019: Players who could shockingly open the innings for each franchise

Over the past 11 years, we have seen different players open the batting for each IPL team. While the pair remained the same for the team throughout the season in most occasions, there were times when the management opts to pull out a surprise by sending an unexpected candidate to commence their innings at the top.

On 13th April 2017, in a match against Kings XI Punjab when Sunil Narine entered to open the innings alongside Gautham Gambir for Kolkata Knight Riders, nobody expected a brutal inning that was about to come from his bat. He ended up scoring a quick fire 37 in just 18 balls with 3 maximums thereby ensuring KKR would chase down the target of 171 with 8 wickets to spare.

Even an ardent Chennai Super Kings fan would not have expected Ambati Rayudu to don the opener role for the defending champions last season. He ended up being the highest run scorer for CSK and fourth highest overall in the season.

Let's have a look at the players who can shockingly open the innings for each franchise this year.

#1 Chennai Super Kings: Sam Billings

England v West Indies - 2nd Twenty20 International

Sam Billings is a promising young talent from England who is yet to prove his worth in the Indian Premier League. Scoring a mere 334 runs in 21 matches, he has played for both Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, and the Englishmen will be hoping to have a better outing this year where he can get his chances in the absence of Faf du Plessis and other overseas players somewhere down the line.

Although his average of 18.56 does not look good, his strike rate of 135.77 with which he hits the ball suggests that he has something to offer. With du Plessis likely to join the team late and Rayudu not looking in good touch, CSK's management could pull a surprise yet again by sending the England wicket-keeper to open alongside Shane Watson.

#2 Mumbai Indians: Anmolpreet Singh

Anmolpreet Singh in action for India U19

There are as many as 5 tested opening options available for Mumbai Indians in Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Rohit Sharma. With the MI captain declaring that he will open the innings in all the games this season, four other players will be fighting it out for the remaining slot. So, it almost looks uncertain that the youngster from Punjab would get a chance to open the innings.

But, in case if Mumbai Indians' management decides to pull out a surprise by sending in Anmolpreet to open alongside Rohit Sharma, we may call it as a tactful decision rather than a bold one. Considering the experience he has in the domestic circuit, he could end up being a very good choice thereby allowing MI to play an extra overseas all-rounder or a bowler in place of Lewis who is likely to slot in as the opener.

#3 Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill made his debut against New Zealand this year

For those who are unaware of the name Shubman Gill, he is a young prodigy from Punjab who was the leading run scorer in the U19 ICC Cricket World Cup in 2018. He was also named a man of the series for his superb performance. This classy batsman received his maiden ODI cap this year when he debuted against New Zealand in the month of January.

Although his debut at international level did not go as he would have wished, he has a lot of potential to become one of India's future prospects. He did show a glimpse of it in the last IPL season where he scored a total of 203 runs at an average of 33.83 and a decent strike-rate of 146.04. It should be noted that he was predominantly playing in the lower middle order where he got limited time to settle.

Like the case with Sunil Narine, it would be interesting to see if the KKR management sees the potential in Gill and allows him to open alongside Chris Lynn or Sunil Narine, which would make for a classy and attacking combination.

#4 Sunrisers Hyderabad: Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow in action for England

Unlike the other players in this list, the choice here cannot be called as a complete shocker considering the fact that Jonny Bairstow is already an opener for his national side and will not be completely new to this role. However, the reason why we call this as a surprising choice is because of the minimal chances of this happening.

In all likelihood, one of Wriddhiman Saha or Shreevats Goswami is likely to open the innings alongside David Warner, freeing up a slot for an overseas player in the XI. But, SRH does have the liberty of testing Bairstow at the top courtesy of the unavailability of Kane Williamson for the initial few games and the injury of Shakib Al Hasan which will keep him out for a while. If given an opportunity, Bairstow could end up making the opening slot his own for times to come.

#5 Royal Challengers Bangalore: Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar could be a surprise weapon in

store

Kohli has mentioned in an interview that the reason for his team's failure is attributed to the bad decisions made rather than the potential of players involved. One such bad decision he could end up rectifying this time around is by promoting Washington Sundar up the order. After a tremendous season, he had with the bat as a part of the Tamil Nadu Premier League previous year (2017), many fans out there expected Kohli to try this player at the top.

Sundar opened the innings for TUTI Patriots and ended the tournament as the leading scorer with 459 runs in 9 matches at an astounding average of 76.50. Maybe it is time for Kohli and the RCB management to consider Sundar as an opener so that Kohli can have an attacking option at the other end when he gets out to open for RCB this year.

#6 Delhi Capitals: Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer would be eyeing the No.4 spot in Indian ODI team

Like Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals too comprise of many players who can open the innings in the shorter format. While the likes of Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Colin Munro, and Shikhar Dhawan are natural choices for the openers slot, there is one player in the XI who could take up the role if his team requires it.

Shreyas Iyer would enter this season as a full-time skipper hoping to build his team back from the poor outing they had in IPL 2018. This could even tempt him to open the innings alongside seasoned campaigner Shikhar Dhawan if the situation demands. But that looks like a least possible scenario considering the fact that he would also be eyeing the No.4 spot in the Indian ODI team.

If anyone doubts his hitting abilities, we would recommend them to watch the game between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders last year where he scored a quick fire 93 runs in just 40 balls that included 3 boundaries and 10 maximums.

#7 Rajasthan Royals: Liam Livingstone

Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightnings - Vitality Blast Semi-Final

Liam Livingstone is an aggressive batsman from England who finds himself in a tough situation where he will have to wait for his IPL debut since the four overseas slots in RR setup looks locked already by names like Ben Stokes, Steven Smith, Jos Butler, and Jofra Archer.

Considering the fact that 50 over World Cup is around the corner, Buttler and Smith might think of resting themselves at some point of the tournament which could become a blessing in disguise for this youngster from England. He is a capable batsman at the top who has already played many T20 tournaments across the world and holds the experience of playing in pressure situations.

#8 Kings XI Punjab: Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran was at his best in 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League

The big man from Jamaica (Chris Gayle) and the most trustworthy batsman from India (KL Rahul) will most likely start the tournament as openers for Kings XI Punjab. With due respect to Chris Gayle, playing games in succession could have a considerable toll on his body which could lead to him taking rest at times if needed.

In that case, who better to replace the aggressive batsman from Carribean soil than the young lad who is slowly setting his footsteps in the shorter format - Nicholas Pooran?

The way he hits the ball all around the park with ease is a testament to his ability. If provided an opportunity, Kings XI Punjab could end up finding a replacement for Gayle at the top if and when he decides to hang up his boots.

That concludes the list of players whom we expect to get a surprising promotion up the order cometh IPL 2019. Please let us know your opinion in the comments section below.