Opening pairs of all 10 teams ahead of IPL 2024

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is just three months away with the mini-auction which was scheduled on December 19 was a grand success with all the 10 teams participating in the auction as this was the first instance that the auction was held in Dubai and there was live audience present in the CocaCola arena. There were massive bidding wars and some steal deals during the auction, with uncapped Indian players getting some big deals from the franchises. 

With the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins getting bid of over 20 crore INR for the very first time in the IPL history, these two players will be under immense pressure of the price tag incase they fail to perform the fans will be very agitated and disappointed with these two. The likes of Sameer Rizvi, Kumar Kushagra, who got the limelight in the auction by getting one of the highest bid from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) respectively, they will be ready to show case their talent in the highest level of cricket. 

The main for a team is their opening combination as how the team will start off a game so that half of the job is done when the openers gives the start in the shortest format of the game and it is important for all the sides to have good openers to provide them with the start they need while batting first or chasing a target as it sets the momentum of the whole team in a long league like IPL. In the article we will be looking at the opening combination for the IPL 2024. 

Here are the opening combination for all the 10 teams of IPL 2024

10.Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad) 

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are a side that have looked good on papers and failed to perform on the field in the last few years. They have tried and tested many openers in the recent years but all failed. With the addition of Travis Head in the side SRH will be definitely utilise his experience and form he is carrying in the last couple of years. The Southpaw has been in good form for the Aussies in all formats of the game and will try to make an impact in IPL as well. He will be opening with Abhishek Sharma, the young all-rounder is a good talent who has firepowered from the top but has lacked in consistency, with Head alongside him he will will get more confidence and get some runs and both batters can give good start to the side.   

9. Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)

Rajasthan Royals (RR) has been finding its form in the recent few years as they failed to win the trophy for the second time in the 2022 season when they lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final. With openers like Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the team has looked formidable, but both batters has shown incosistency under pressure circumstances. The latter had brilliant IPL season in the 2023 year as he played brilliantly, but Buttler's form in the white-ball has been a concern for the side though he won the T20 World Cup in 2022 but he failed to deliver in IPL 2023. The openers needs to perform all guns blazing if they need to give their team a place in the playoffs. 

8. David Warner and Prithvi Shaw (Delhi Capitals)

Delhi Capitals (DC) has been one of the most unluckiest side in the tournament as they had formidable squad, but failed to perform in the knockouts and must win games in the IPL. The team is yet to win a trophy and 2024 might be the year. With David Warner and Prithvi Shaw they have good firepower in the top order as both batters are in exceptional form in the current year. The former was the World Champion with Australia in the ongoing year and was one of the key member for the success for the side. He gave good start to the national side in the mega event. Shaw's form and fitness has been a concern but the batter has been in good touch in 2023 and will definitely try continuing with the form in the IPL 2024 edition as well. 

7. Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh (Punjab Kings) 

Punjab Kings (PBKS) has performed well over the years, but have failed to make an impact over the trophy of the IPL whenever their was pressure situations and that what makes the side unlucky as well. In 2014 they went to the final but lost. A lot has changed since then, Shikhar Dhawan, the team's skipper will have to take more responsibility while opening the innings, the left-handed batter has scored runs for the side but not a firey strike rate. The young batter Prabhsimran Singh will be the partner for the veteran batter in the IPL 2024 and these two needs to fire all guns in order give a good start to the side and win games underpressure as well. 

6. Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal (Lucknow Super Giants)

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has been one of the most consistent side since their inclusion the IPL. They have qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back edition of the toughest T20 league in the world. They have a lot of choices for the opening slot in IPL 2024 but the best will be Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal, the former had a great ODI World Cup 2023, as he scored four centuries in the single edition and helped South Africa qualify for the semi-final. Hi form will be the key for the side as he played good knocks in the last edition as well, with Padikkal who was traded from RR, is a crucial for the side as he can anchor the innings with the former and firepower as well when required. 

5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are a side that have lacked in finding opening combination since the exclusion of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa. The team has struggled in the top order as they failed to make an impact in the start of the innings leading the pressure to the middle order. In the previous edition they tried tested some but Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer's partnership in the top order clicked a bit for the side and they will be surely in belief of the third trophy with the form Gurbaz has shown in the white-ball format in recent times. Iyer's support will be a key for the side and can give problems for the opposition as well. 

4. Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha (Gujarat Titans) 

Gujarat Titans (GT) have let go their captain Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians (MI) for an all-cash deal of 15 crore INR. They have a new captain Shubman Gill, the young rising star for India has been in great form in the 2023 edition, he was key for the side in the last edition as Gill won the Orange Cap scoring 890 runs in the previous edition and led his team to the final. The batter has a new role and bigger responisbility on his shoulder and will like to capitalise on the very same, he will be opening with Wriddhiman Saha who has played the role of the aggressor between the two and has given the side good start from top order, the franchise will be looking with the same opening pair to fire in the upcoming season as well. 

3. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are the most unluckiest side when it comes to win trophies they are yet to win a trophy in 16 years of IPL. They have good opening partnership of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli and with the experience of both batters the franchise will definitely like to go for the same combination like they did in the last two editions. The comibnation has been successful as well with both batters knows how to play shots as per the requirements and situations of the innings. They will love to give solid start to the franchise in the upcoming edition. 

2. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians) 

Mumbai Indians (MI) are one of the joint-most successful side of the IPL history, they have won the trophy five-times and have been one of the best teams on and off the field. With the team bonding and chemistry they have it makes them the most dangerous side of the IPL. They had rather average IPL 2023 season according to their standards as they failed to qualify for the finals. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan will be the batters opening for the side and these two will be eyeing to give good start to the side as they have given in the past, so that they can win their sixth trophy in the IPL. 

1. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are also the five-time winners of the IPL. The key to their success is their opening partnership which has been formidable over the years. With Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, they are the most settled looking opening pairs in the IPL in recent times as both batters are good form and is a good player of spin and pace and has a strength of rotating the strike as well in between the overs and that is makes them the best opening pairs in IPL in few years.