Rating the Indian openers ahead of the 2019 World Cup

Shikhar Dhawan - 8/10

Dhawan has been incredibly consistent in ODIs

A career average of nearly 45 and a strike rate of over 90 in ODIs for an opener are numbers that would ordinarily merit a selection in most ODI teams. But such is Shikhar Dhawan's ability to polarise opinion that his place in the side is still questioned at times. And yet, this is the same player, who finished the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 as the leading run-getter and averaged in excess of 50 in his only World Cup.

Dhawan's ability to turn up the heat when the pressure is on, whether it is to do with his place in the side or in a crunch game for India is never in question. When it comes to crucial games, Dhawan is only bettered by Virat Kohli, in terms of ability to get going. But the problem with him seems to be his performances when the stakes aren't so high.

Over 3,500 runs at an average of almost 45 shows that could only be a misconception as you can't have such a high average without performing on a consistent basis. And the fact that he has scored at least one ODI hundred each year since 2013 shows that he is capable of playing the long innings and not just giving his side a fast start.