5 Indian players who could have broken many records if they were openers

5 Indian players who could have broken many records if they were openers

In Indian cricket, due to the immense competition, several talented players never got the chance to open the innings. While some excelled in the middle order and made the position their own, others were sidelined in no time. Opening provides more time to settle, assess the conditions, and dominate.

Rohit Sharma is a classic example of what can happen when such an opportunity is seized. He began his career as a middle-order batter, but after being promoted to open during the 2013 Champions Trophy, his career graph went high. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the finest white-ball openers of all time. However, many other players who could have broken many records if they were openers.

5 Indian cricketer who could have broken many records if they were openers:

5. Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh, considered to be the finest middle-order batter of his generation, might have broken many more records had he opened the innings for India. Known for his elegant batting, Yuvraj often walked in during high-pressure situations and sometimes didn’t get enough deliveries to fully express himself. As an opener, he could’ve shown his aggressive game from the very start. Meanwhile, Yuvraj was also a pleasing player to watch and could play conventional shots. However, he was often forced to accelerate considering the smaller number of balls remaining during the fag end of the innings.

With a brilliant white-ball career that includes 8701 ODI runs, 111 wickets, and the Player of the Tournament award in India’s 2011 World Cup-winning campaign, Yuvraj is one of the most impactful players in India’s cricket history. While he showed his brilliance in white-ball cricket, he couldn’t give much due to his Test cricket. With the line-up being filled with star players and stalwarts of the game, the southpaw often warmed the bench. Had he been tried at the top, he could have replicated similar performances in this format of the game.

4. Rahul Dravid:

Former captain and coach, Rahul Dravid, is considered the most dependable middle-order batter and one of the greatest to don the Indian jersey. However, most of his iconic performances were from the No. 3 or 4 spot. But if he had regularly opened the innings, he could have added more accolades to his already illustrious record list.

Though he occasionally opened in both Tests and ODIs, scoring 807 runs in 23 Tests and 786 runs at 39.30 in 21 ODIs, he never took the role full-time. His most notable outing at the position came during the 2011 Oval Test, where he scored an unbeaten 146 as a makeshift opener. He also opened alongside Virender Sehwag in the first Test during India’s tour of Pakistan in 2006. The duo stitched a marathon 401-run stand to help the visitors draw the game.

3. Mohammad Kaif:

Mohammad Kaif is remembered as one of India’s finest middle-order batters and a solid fielder, but his international career was cut short due to tough competition from players like Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, and others. Despite playing iconic knocks, most memorably the match-winning 87* at Lord’s in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final, Kaif rarely found a permanent spot in the XI.

Interestingly, Kaif did open the innings for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket and had the technique suited for the top order. Had he been backed as an opener for India, his career graph might have been very different. As an opener, the U-19 World Cup-winning captain could have faced more balls and played his natural game, rather than constantly playing under pressure in the middle or death overs.

2. Suresh Raina:

Former Left-handed batter Suresh Raina’s batting style made him a match-winner in limited-overs cricket. But despite his aggressive approach, he rarely got a chance to open for India. Raina was slotted in the middle order, playing fewer balls to showcase his attacking game. With India’s top and middle order filled with stars like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, Raina never quite found the room to move up.

Interestingly, in domestic cricket and the IPL, Raina showed he could dominate right from the start. Often walking in at No.3 for Chennai Super Kings, Raina is still one of the highest run-getters in the league. He is also the first player to go past the 5000-run mark in the lucrative tournament. However, he never got the same opportunity at the top for the nation. His career might have prolonged by a few years had he opened, fans and experts believe.

1. MS Dhoni

Legendary Indian skipper MS Dhoni will forever be remembered as one of the greatest finishers the game has seen. But in 2005, when he just came into the team, after struggling in the middle-order, he was promoted to No. 3 against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam, and smashed 148 in just his fifth ODI. That early brilliance showed at what could’ve been if India had allowed him to play as an opener.

In domestic cricket, Dhoni often opened or batted in the top order. However, once he became captain, he took the responsibility of finishing games. Yet, many fans and experts believe that had the legendary wicketkeeper-batter opened for the Men in Blue, he could’ve broken many batting records.