Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to return with its 17th season in March 2024. Before the tournament, all franchises got rid of some non-performing players and added some new names in the 2024 IPL auction in Dubai, to strengthen their teams. Star players such as Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Alzarri Joseph, and Travis Head received big bucks at the marquee event.
Following the business extravaganza in Dubai, all teams will look to pick up quality players who can do their jobs efficiently. In the previous season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became champions after beating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final and equalled Mumbai Indians’ (MI) record of five titles in the league.
In CSK’s spectacular success, their openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway played a vital part. Both opening batters scored more than 1200 runs combined and helped their side clinch the distinguished trophy. Noting Chennai’s victory in the last season, all teams will want their openers to step up and play aggressive cricket in the upcoming IPL edition. Prior to the marquee T20 competition, it is time to have a glance at the opening pairs of all sides.
Here are the opening combinations of each team for IPL 2024:
10. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)- Quinton de Kock and Kyle Mayers
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul might be seen batting in the middle order for the team. In the last season, the West Indies’ Kyle Mayers looked stunning with his bat and won the confidence of the team management. In 13 games, he notched up 379 runs at an impressive strike rate of 144.10.
With the presence of aggressive de Kock and Mayers, Rahul will have to move to the middle order. The batting attitude of both players might help Lucknow get fierce starts in the 2024 IPL. In 2023, Mayers scored 206 runs in 12 T20Is at a remarkable strike rate of 158.46 while the Proteas southpaw hit 594 runs in 10 matches in the 2023 World Cup and ended up as the the third-leading run-getter in the tournament.
9. Rajasthan Royals (RR)- Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal
Jos Buttler, who won the Orange Cap in 2022, failed to be at his best for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2023 IPL. On one side, the England veteran lacked consistency while the youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal played his role incredibly and became the leading run-getter for the team in the season.
Jaiswal amassed 625 runs in 14 matches and joined the highest run-scorer chart with legends such as Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. In the upcoming competition, both Buttler and Jaiswal will be expected to wreak havoc on bowlers to help RR lift the trophy after 16 years.
8. Punjab Kings (PBKS)- Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow
Shikhar Dhawan has looked decent for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the opening role. In the last two seasons, the India veteran became the highest run-scorer for Punjab. In 2023, Dhawan kicked off Punjab’s innings with Prabhsimran Singh, who played his part excellently. The 23-year-old Prabhsimran scored 358 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 150.42 and ended up as the second-highest run-scorer for the side.
In 2024, England’s star batter Jonny Bairstow will return to the squad, and with the veteran’s comeback, Prabhsimran might be demoted in the batting order. Both Dhawan and Bairstow are immensely experienced and they can deliver superb starts to the team with their spunky batting styles.
7. Delhi Capitals (DC)- David Warner and Prithvi Shaw
David Warner served Delhi Capitals (DC) as a skipper in the 2023 IPL and it was witnessed that the leadership mantle created pressure on him. The veteran’s defensive batting approach in initial games displayed he was not playing his natural game. At the end of the season, he became the leading run-scorer for the side with 516 runs in 14 games.
However, Warner’s performance did not satiate DC fans and they will want him to play fearlessly in 2024. It was not just Warner who looked timid in the 2023 IPL as his opening partner Prithvi Shaw also struggled to be among the runs. With just 106 runs in eight games, the 24-year-old had the worst IPL season of his career. Both players will look to forget their previous failures to serve the Capitals confidently in the upcoming competition.
6. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)- Travis Head and Mayank Agarwal
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) failed to play quality cricket in the 2023 IPL and concluded the competition at the bottom of the points table with only four wins and 10 losses. Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma were given the responsibility of opening innings for the team but both failed to justify their roles.
They also benched Abhishek and tried Harry Brook in the slot but he also struggled to give solid starts to the side. Despite noting the dismal batting numbers of Agarwal and Abhishek, SRH did not part ways with them. Both players will feature in SRH’s 2024 campaign. Meanwhile, Hyderabad fetched Australia’s Travis Head for INR 6.80 crore in the 2024 auction,
In the upcoming season, Head might be seen with Agarwal as an opener. The Aussie southpaw has looked extraordinary with his bat in white-ball cricket recently. His endeavours will be to showcase his batting mettle in the cash-rich league and become a crucial asset for Sunrisers. Agarwal has also been in decent form as he exuded confidence with some fine knocks for Karnataka in the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
5. Gujarat Titans (GT)- Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha
Gujarat Titans (GT) have looked exceptional in the last two years and they will strive to continue their superb run in 2024 as well. In the previous season, their opener Shubman Gill looked marvellous with his bat and became the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 890 runs in 17 matches at an outstanding strike rate of 157.80.
In 2024, Gill will lead the side as the franchise has appointed him the captain of the team after Hardik Pandya’s departure to Mumbai Indians. The youngster will look to lead GT from the front in 2024 and help the side regain the coveted trophy. He will also expect his senior colleague Wriddhiman Saha to support him consistently. In the last season, Saha put up a fine show with his bat, scoring 371 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 129.26.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- Jason Roy and Venkatesh Iyer
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) supporters will want their team to give cheerful moments to them with their performance in the 2024 IPL. In the last two seasons, they looked horrendous and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Knight Riders have roped in their former skipper Gautam Gambhir as a mentor and with his arrival, their fans are expecting their side to clinch the distinguished trophy after 10 years.
KKR will focus on getting quality starts in matches. In the auction held in Dubai, they got Mitchell Starc at a record sum of INR 24.75 crore. The Aussie speedster will be handed the responsibility to deliver early breakthroughs to the team with the ball, while with the bat they might assign Jason Roy and Venkatesh Iyer the task of providing effective starts to the team.
Roy can collect runs at a swift pace while Venkatesh is known for his poised batting attitude. In the upcoming competition, both batters will look to solidify the team with their batting skills.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)- Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will heavily bank on their veteran openers Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis to fare well in the upcoming competition. In the last season, Kohli looked fabulous and became the fourth leading run-getter, hitting 639 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 139.82.
Talking about skipper du Plessis, he has looked stunning with his bat for RCB since 2022. The right-handed batter has notched up 1198 runs in 30 matches at a strike rate of 142.28 for the team. RCB supporters will want their captain to be valiant with his bat again.
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)- Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad
Devon Conway and Gaikwad showcased their mettle and made crucial contributions with their bats to help CSK bag the trophy in the last season. Conway piled up 672 runs in 16 matches and ended up as the third-highest run-scorer while Gaikwad also scored 590 runs in 16 games at a spectacular average of 42.14.
Gaikwad has performed excellently with his bat recently. He hit his maiden T20I ton against Australia in Guwahati and grabbed a lot of eyeballs. His form will bring joy to the faces of CSK fans who are expecting their side to retain the trophy. However, Conway has not looked consistent with his bat in white-ball cricket. The Kiwi southpaw will have to be among the runs to boost his confidence for the upcoming tournament.
1. Mumbai Indians (MI)- Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan
Rohit Sharma did not look confident with his bat in the last IPL edition but the same might not happen in 2024. In the 2023 World Cup, he batted fearlessly and ended up as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition, with 597 runs in 11 matches at a notable strike rate of 125.94. The veteran’s numbers indicate that he might deliver exceptional starts to MI in the 2024 IPL.
MI have removed Rohit from captaincy and without the leadership responsibility, he might bat with freedom and deliver some scintillating knocks to the side. Rohit’s opening partner Ishan Kishan will also look to leave an impact in the upcoming competition and impress selectors to travel with the Indian team for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
