IPL 2019: Ranking the middle order batsmen of the 8 IPL teams

The IPL 2019 auctions have decided the final look of the eight IPL teams, and the only thing left to see is what happens in the trading window which is now open. Teams lacking in middle order resources may choose to trade in a few good batsmen from the teams that have a surplus of that breed.

The middle order is the crux based on which a team can go from being a decent side to an excellent one. Even if you have the best opening batsmen in the world, you still need good middle order batsmen to continue the starts to their logical finish.

It is for this reason that middle order batsmen are valued all over the world and rated highly. The same is true with the IPL too.

In this article, we will try to analyze the middle order batsmen of all the 8 IPL teams and see which teams have an advantage over others.

#8 Rajasthan Royals

Possible middle order options available for Rajasthan

1. Steve Smith

2. Sanju Samson

3. Ben Stokes

4. Rahul Tripathi

5. Aryaman Birla

6. Prashant Chopra

7. Mahipal Lomror

8. Liam Livingstone

9. Shashank Singh

10. Riyan Parag

Steve Smith, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi might be the preferred middle order to support the Rahane-Buttler opening combination. But the risk arises when three among the six players stated above leave midway for international duty.

By taking a quick look at the reserves squad and the players bought by Rajasthan in the auctions, we have to assume that the team management was not aware that Jos Buttler, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes might be leaving midway through the league. Instead of buying covers in the form of middle order overseas batsmen, Rajasthan have bought 2 all-rounders in Liam Livingstone and Ashton Turner, apart from fast bowler Oshane Thomas.

Livingstone seems to be the only decent replacement for Smith or Stokes, while Turner is primarily a bowling all-rounder - similar to what Jofra Archer is.

Overall Rajasthan have a pretty good team lineup until the trio leaves. After that, it's up to the Indian backups to come good in the middle order.

Rajasthan could have easily got an above average rating with Smith and Stokes in the middle order. But their absence in the later stages makes the team an average one.

#7 Kings XI Punjab

Possible middle order options available for Punjab:

1. Mayank Agarwal

2. Karun Nair

3. David Miller

4. Mandeep Singh

5. Sarfaraz Khan

6. Prabhsimran Singh

7. Agnivesh Ayachi

Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and David Miller will fill the 3 middle order slots for Punjab with either Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan or the new sensation Prabhsimran Singh playing at No. 6. The backups of the Punjab side are quite adequate as they also have Agnivesh Ayachi to cover for the slots.

KL Rahul and either Nicholas Pooran or Chris Gayle will have to provide good starts to the team just like the IPL 2018 season, as the middle order alone cannot be trusted to grab the momentum from the opposition.

Agarwal, Nair and Miller are good players, but their performances in the last season were just average. It was primarily thanks to Gayle and Rahul that Punjab were winning matches in the initial stages of the last IPL season.

Overall, with no injuries plaguing them, Punjab can be expected to survive the season quite well.

#6 Kolkata Knight Riders

Possible middle order options available for Kolkata

1. Robin Uthappa

2. Nitish Rana

3. Dinesh Karthik

4. Shubman Gill

5. Rinku Singh

6. Nikhil Naik

While the Chris Lynn - Sunil Narine opening combination will look to pile up some quick runs, Robin Uthappa at No. 3 will have the responsibility of stabilizing the top order. Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik and Shubman Gill can be expected to follow, constituting the middle order for Kolkata Knight Riders. Andre Russell will likely make up the final piece of the puzzle.

Backups in the form of Rinku Singh and Nikhil Naik might not be high profile names, but could be good enough to do the job.

Trouble might arise when Lynn leaves for international duty and if Robin Uthappa has to go to the opening slot. In that case, Kolkata might have to introduce Joe Denly in the lower middle order to compensate for Lynn. Even if Denly goes in as an opener, it wouldn't be the same as having Lynn out there.

Overall the middle order of KKR looks good, but the Lynn uncertainty might take a toll on the team.

#5 Sunrisers Hyderabad

Possible middle order options available for Hyderabad:

1. Kane Williamson

2. Manish Pandey

3. Yusuf Pathan

4. Shakib Al Hasan

5. Ricky Bhui

For a team that has an army of pace bowlers at its disposal, the number of possible middle order options seems to be comparatively smaller for Hyderabad.

They had a chance to grab a few good middle order Indian batsmen in the auctions considering how their million-dollar recruit Manish Pandey underperformed in the last season. But instead, Hyderabad grabbed 2 similar overseas openers for a slot where they already had an overseas opener returning for them.

Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan can be the starters in the middle order slots. Shakib Al Hasan is a decent option too, but considering the 4 overseas players restriction, he might have to push his chance with some good performances.

The backup in the form of Ricky Bhui will have to prove himself to warrant any comment over here.

Overall Sunrisers have a decent middle order, assuming Manish Pandey does not underperform once again and Yusuf Pathan is not worn out by age.

#4 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Possible middle order options available for Bangalore:

1. Virat Kohli

2. AB de Villiers

3. Heinrich Klaasen

4. Shimron Hetmyer

5. Himmat Singh

6. Milind Kumar

7. Akshdeep Nath

Bangalore have a sure-shot No. 3 and No. 4 as their mainstays – Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Apart from those two slots, every other position can be experimented upon.

There is a possibility that Bangalore might opt to play Heinrich Klaasen at No. 5 to strengthen their middle order, or even Moeen Ali could be given that role.

If Shimron Hetmeyer is preferred in the middle order instead of being an opener, then he may end up at No. 5 or No. 6 depending on whether Klaasen plays or not. If neither of the two overseas recruits is picked in the playing XI, then that void might be filled up by Himmat Singh or Milind Kumar.

Overall there is a lot of scope for experimentation in the Bangalore lineup in order to get the right playing XI. It will be up to Gary Kirsten and Kohli to get the ball rolling with the right combination from the start of the IPL season.

#3 Delhi Capitals

Possible middle order options available for Delhi:

1. Hanuma Vihari

2. Shreyas Iyer

3. Colin Ingram

4. Rishabh Pant

5. Manjot Kalra

6. Ankush Bains

Delhi capitals have a flamboyant opening combination in Prithvi Shah and Shikhar Dhawan. But the middle order of the team that follows those two is no less mouth-watering.

Hanuma Vihari can be expected to bring stability to the middle order at the No. 3 position, with Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, Colin Ingram at No. 5 and Rishabh Pant at No. 6.

Backups in the form of Manjot Kalra and Ankush Bains don’t have the swagger of the regulars, but could be effective enough to bring assurance to the side.

If you analyze the middle order combination, the team has a good crop of young Indian batsmen to take the game forward. And among the top 6 players, only one overseas slot needs to be utilized - by Colin Ingram.

Vihari can roll his arm over as a part-time spinner too, while Pant provides the wicket-keeping flexibility.

Overall the middle order of Delhi Capitals is clearly one of the best among all the IPL teams.

#2 Chennai Super Kings

Possible middle order options available for Chennai:

1. Suresh Raina

2. Ambati Rayudu

3. MS Dhoni

4. Kedar Jadhav

5. Dhruv Shorey

6. Chaitanya Bishnoi

7. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai will continue to go with their successful strategy of relying on the Indian heavyweight middle order in Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav. The combination was successful in the last IPL season, and Dhoni has gone with the same unchanged partnership for the 2019 season too.

While there are backups in the form of Dhruv Shorey, Chaitanya Bishnoi and Ruturaj Gaikwad, they are unlikely to get called into action much. Gaikwad was one of the 2 players bought by Chennai in the IPL 2019 auctions.

The lower middle order of Chennai will comprise of all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo, and both of them will be expected to deliver the finishing touches.

Overall Chennai Super Kings have a pretty good middle order comprising of Indian players.

#1 Mumbai Indians

Possible middle order options available for Mumbai:

1. Ishan Kishan

2. Rohit Sharma / Suryakumar Yadav

3. Yuvraj Singh

4. Hardik Pandya

5. Siddhesh Lad

6. Aditya Tare

7. Anmolpreet Singh

8. Pankaj Jaiswal

9. Krunal Pandya

The new recruit Yuvraj Singh will be pivotal in the Mumbai middle order, and Ishan Kishan can be expected to be their mainstay in the pivotal No. 3 slot. Either Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav will join the duo in the middle order while the other opens the innings with either Quinton de Kock or Evin Lewis.

If there is any shortcoming in the middle order, either of the two Pandya brothers could be promoted to fill the void.

Apart from all the options mentioned above, there is a young crop of players eagerly waiting on the sidelines for an opportunity. Siddhesh Lad, Anmolpreet Singh and Pankaj Jaiswal would be hoping for an opportunity in the playing XI, although they would know it would be hard to come by.

Overall, Mumbai seem to be spoiled with options and don't have much to worry about.