IPL 2020: Probable Opening Pairs Of All The Eight Teams

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the entire IPL 2020 that will begin on 19th September 2020 and it will run till 10th November 2020. All the eight teams are in the final level of their preparation to start their campaign in the IPL 2020 and they are trying to sort out their best playing XI for this tournament.

For every team, the opening pair is one of the very crucial points in their batting line-up as a good start can easily lead a team to a strong position in a game. That’s why every team put special care to choose the right opening partner.

Here we are talking about the probable opening pair of all eight teams in the IPL 2020

Aaron Finch and Parthiv Patel – Royal Challengers Bangalore

The addition of the Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch will help the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to extend their reliable top-order batting. The last-positioned side in the IPL 2019, RCB are likely to begin their IPL 2020 campaign with the new opening partner Aaron Finch and Parthiv Patel. While Parthiv is their regular opening batsman, Finch has been added in the squad during the 2020 IPL auction.

This opening pair can release the pressure from captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain AB de Villiers, who now can play more freely than before. Kohli is another strong option for the opening batting.

Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson – Rajasthan Royals

In the IPL 2020, the inaugural IPL tournament winners Rajasthan Royals will miss their long time player and former captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was released in the pre-season auction. English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler and Indian wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson are likely to be the opening pair in the IPL 2020. In the last two years, Buttler batted very well, while Samson has played better cricket as a top-order batsman.

Another Indian experienced cricketer Robin Uthappa can be another strong option for their opening pair position in the IPL 2020.

Chris Gayle and KL Rahul – Kings XI Punjab

The IPL 2014 runners-up Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are very much likely to keep their last successful opening partner, Chris Gayle and KL Rahul. In the last two seasons, they were the top two performers in the KXIP batting line-up. In both the IPL 2018 and IPL 2019, while Rahul finished as the leading run-scorer for the side, Gayle was the second most run-scorer for the team. Also, Rahul will now play as the captain role of the side.

Another Indian cricketer Mayank Agarwal can be another option for the opening pair position, but only when either Gayle or Rahul remains unavailable for the selection.

Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine – Kolkata Knight Riders

While Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released the Australian cricketer Chris Lynn, who was their consistent performer as an opening batsman, Caribbean all-rounder Sunil Narine and Indian youngster Shubman Gill are likely to be the first choice opening partner for them in the IPL 2020.

Narine has evolved as a proper all-rounder by improving his batting quality along with maintaining his impressive bowling skills. As an opener, the left-handed batsman has the ability to provide a good firing start in the mandatory powerplay. On the other hand, Gill is confident in the opening batting role and he proved it during the last IPL season.

English cricketer Tom Banton can be another option for the opening pair position for the KKR in the IPL 2020.

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow – Sunrisers Hyderabad

There is no hesitation to say that Australian cricketer David Warner and England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow will open the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) innings in the IPL 2020. The present captain Warner and Bairstow, both are the strongest names in their batting line-up and their opening partnerships were incredible in the last IPL edition. In the IPL 2019, they put four centurion partnerships and three more 50+ partnerships for the first wicket.

Talking about the further option for the opening pair, we can name the Indian wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha, but he will not be the first choice.

Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan – Delhi Capitals

Indian youngster Prithvi Shaw and experienced cricketer Shikhar Dhawan are likely to continue their opening partnership in the IPL 2020. Both of them are strong in this role and their partnerships seemed very positive in the last IPL season.

Another experienced cricketer Ajinkya Rahane can be another option for the opening pair in this IPL season.

Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – Chennai Super Kings

The three-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are likely to retain their last opening pair combination as overseas cricketers will start their innings. Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson and former South African captain Faf du Plessis are likely to continue to serve for the CSK team as the opening partner. In the last IPL season, while Du Plessis scored 396 runs in 12 innings (average 36.00; strike-rate 123.36), Watson scored 398 runs in 17 innings (average 23.41; strike-rate 127.56).

However, if one of them is unavailable for the selection due to any reason, Indian cricketer Murali Vijay is likely to get the first priority.

Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock – Mumbai Indians

The four-time IPL trophy winners Mumbai Indians (MI) will participate in the IPL 2020 as the defending champions. They will be happy to continue their last opening partners in the upcoming IPL season as the skipper and Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma will open with South African wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock.

De Kock was the most run-scorer for Mumbai Indians in the last season as the left-handed batsman scored 529 runs in 16 games (average 35.26; strike-rate 132.91). Meanwhile, Rohit is the third-most run-scorer in the IPL history who is best in the opening batting role.

Australian cricketer Chris Lynn can be another strong option for their opening pair if it requires.