Ranking the top 10 Test openers in the world currently

#9 Shikhar Dhawan (India)

Dhawan struggled on the recent tour of England

If he was as good overseas as he was in India, Dhawan would certainly be much higher up this list. Much like Rahul, he is a man capable of playing some very attractive innings, and getting his side off to a flyer. He memorably showed this off on his debut, scoring the fastest century on Test debut against Australia, reaching three figures off just 85 balls. He was eventually out of 187.

The 32-year-old does have the ability to go big once he gets off to a start, and actually has a very good conversion record from fifties to hundreds. He has passed fifty 12 times in his career, and on seven of those occasions he has gone on to make a century. He has a good average of 40.61 in Tests, at an impressive strike rate of 66.94. His attacking instincts are his greatest strengths, but they have often proved his downfall in the past.