The 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) will kickstart from March 26 and the final match is slated to be played on May 29. With less than a month left for the biggest cricketing league to start, all ten franchises will be looking to find the best possible opening duo for their respective teams.

Facing new cherry and batting within the field restrictions, openers have the responsibility to provide the best possible start for their team while, assessing the pitch conditions as well. In past seasons of the IPL, we have seen several dynamic opening partnerships giving explosive starts for their respective teams. However, with mega auction conducted this year. The tried and tested opening formula has changed for most of the franchises. Here’s a list of best possible opening duos for each franchise.

1. Sunrisers Hyderabad ( Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma)

After the exit of their star batters David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, Sunrisers Hyderabad are the only franchise to confirm their opening batters for IPL 2022. SRH’s spin-bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan has named young Indian allrounder Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson as their openers for the tournament.

“Abhishek was pretty much part of our initial plans. He was in and out of the side last season, but we want him to assume greater responsibility this time. We want him to open the batting alongside Kane,” Muralitharan told Sportskeeda.

Abhishek who has played 22 IPL matches in which he has scored 241 runs at a strike rate close to 140. Senior among them, skipper Williamson will look to anchor the innings for SRH, while the 21-year old can be given the license to play freely during the field restrictions.

2. Mumbai Indians (Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan)

Five time champions Mumbai Indians will look to have like to like replacement for their opening partnership in IPL 2022. With Quinton de Kock not returning to the franchise, MI will look to copy the same opening duo being used by the national team in form of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

The left-handed batter has already opened with Rohit in quite few IPL matches and already have an understanding between them. Kishan has played 61 IPL matches in which he has scored 1452 runs at an average of 28.47, while striking the ball at 136.34.

His partner, Sharma’s record speak for themselves. Captaining MI since 2013, Rohit has amassed 5611 runs in total 213 IPL matches he has played so far. The right-handed batter averages 31.17 playing at a strike rate of 130.4. MI will be looking to have another successful campaign under his leadership in the upcoming tournament.

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

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will have a new opening combination for upcoming IPL season after their long standing opener Faf du Plesis after the franchise was unable to bag him in the mega auction. CSK skipper MS Dhoni and franchise think tank will have their task cut out to finalize their opening duo.

While, Ruturaj Gaikwad orange cap holder after scoring 635 runs 16 innings with an average of almost 40 in IPL 2021 is confirmed  to start the innings for defending champions. New Zealand sensation Devon Conway who bagged by the franchise at INR 1 crore will be one of the favorite to join Gaikwad at top of the order.

Conway who has had an emphatic start to his T20I career averages 50.17 in the format. The batter in 20 matches has scored 602 runs at an amazing strike rate of 139.35. The left-handed batter also has a highest score of 99 runs under his belt.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (Venkatesh Iyer and Alex Hales)

After the exit of Shubman Gill from the team, finalists of last year’s edition Kolkata Knight Riders have several options in their squad to choose their two openers.  Left-handed batter Venkatesh Iyer who had a dream run in IPL 2021 is confirmed to open the innings for the franchise.

KKR have several options in their team including the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana. However, the franchise is likely to go with explosive England batter Alex Hales to partner with Iyer at the top of the order.

The 33-year old batter has only played in six IPL matches scoring 148 runs in the process. However, the batter holds a load of experience as he has been a part of several franchise based tournaments around the globe. In his T20I career, Hales has amassed 1644 runs averaging 31.02 and having a strike rate of 136.66.

5.  Rajasthan Royals (Jos Butler and Yashasvi Jaiswal)

Franchise Rajasthan Royals will be hoping for a much better campaign in IPL 2022 as compared to their last few outings in the tournament. In batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Butler to provide a steady start for RR during the field restrictions.

Jaiswal showed his true character in group stage match his franchise played against CSK. Chasing 190 runs, Jaiswal thrashed CSK bowlers all around the park scoring a half-century in just 21 balls he faced. As a result, RR won that match comfortably with 15 balls remaining.

The franchise will be expecting more consistent performance from Jaiswal as he will likely open up with another destructive batter in the form of Butler. The 31-year old batter has been an integral part of the franchise for past few years. Butler in his IPL career scored 1968 runs at an average of 35.14. He also has a century under his name in the tournament.

6. Lucknow Super Giants (KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock)

Making their debut in IPL, Lucknow Super Giants are one of the franchise who have their opening combination sorted. It is very likely that Indian batter and skipper for the franchise KL Rahul will open the innings with South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

While, KL Rahul was purchased by LSG before the mega auction at a price of INR 17 crore. De Kock was purchased by the franchise in mega auction at a price of 6.75 crore. The dangerous duo will look to provide quick starts for their franchise in the upcoming season.

Both Rahul and de Kock have an amazing record in IPL. While, Rahul having played 94 IPL matches has piled up 3273 runs at a staggering average of almost 50 runs. His partner has has scored 2256 runs in the league scoring at a strike rate of 130.93

7. Gujarat Titans (Shubman Gill and Matthew Wade)

Just like LSG, Gujarat Titans will be another franchise making their debut in IPL this year. To be captained by allrounder Hardik Pandya, the team has several prominent players in their squad. However, it will be interesting to see that who will be partnering with Shubman Gill at top of the order.

The franchise purchased English explosive batter Jason Roy for his base price of INR two crore at the mega auction. However, the batter  has pulled out of the tournament citing the challenge of staying in the tournament bubble for an extended period.

With Roy out of contention, GT will now be looking for another overseas player in form of Matthew Wade to fulfill the requirement of opening the innings for the franchise. The 34-year old batter has only played three IPL matches and has nothing much to show in his record. However, his recent form cannot be ignored by the franchise as he has played some scintillating knocks in recently concluded Big Bash League and 2021 T20 World Cup.

8. Punjab Kings (Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal)

Going into the tournament, Punjab Kings have one of the most formidable opening partnership. The franchise in the mega auction managed to acquire stylish opener Shikhar Dhawan at a price of INR 8.25 crore. Dhawan is set to open the innings with Mayank Agarwal who was retained by PBKS at a whopping price of INR 12 crore.

Agarwal has amassed 2135 runs in IPL and has scored them at an average of 23.46.  The 31-year-old was in stellar form in the 2021 edition of the IPL. Agarwal plundered 441 runs in 12 innings he played in last season having an average of 40.09 and a strike rate of over 140.

Similarly, his partner Dhawan has always remained among the runs in IPL. The left-handed batter has played 192 matches in the tournament scoring 5783 runs at an average of 34.63 and striking at 126.63. Dhawan also has 12 fifties and two hundreds under his belt.

9. Delhi Capitals (Prithvi Shaw and David Warner)

There might not be a more lethal opening partnership in the cricketing world as compared to Delhi Capitals opening duo of Prithvi Shaw and David Warner. While, Shaw was retained by the franchise at a cost of INR 7.5 crore. Australian batter Warner was bagged by the capitals for INR 6.25 crore.

DC had lots of confidence in Shaw as they retained the batter, despite dropping some names from their squad including Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer. However, the 22-year old has given some of the most entertaining knocks in the IPL. The right-handed batter has played 53 matches in IPL scoring 1305 runs at a strike rate of 146.3

Similarly his partner Warner in IPL 2020 smashed 548 runs at an average of 39.14 and a strike rate of 143.86 to ensure that his team qualified for the playoffs despite having a woeful middle order. DC will be expecting Warner to be at his absolute best and help him get their maiden IPL title.

 10. Royal Challengers Bangalore (Faf du Plesis and Virat Kohli)

Just like their motto, Royal Challengers Bangalore can make a ‘bold’ statement by sending two of their prominent batters Virat Kohli and Faf du Plesis to open the innings. Both du Plessis and Kohli have loads of batting experience and can build their innings before another overseas batter Glenn Maxwell looks to give finishing touches for his franchise.

Former CSK opener performed his duties well in past season of the IPL racking up 633 runs from 16 matches, including six fifties. His likely partner Kohli has amassed  6283 runs from 207 IPL matches at an average of 37.4 and a strike rate of almost 130.

Its also an possibility that du Plesis will be handed over the franchise captaincy after Kohli stepped down from the position after completion of last year’s edition.