xtratime Logo

XtraTime Web Desk: In world cricket many times we have seen that when a batsman is batting really well in the middle order, the team management tries to send him up the order so that the batsman play maximum deliveries during the game and score more runs while batting at the top. Not only that a lot of batsmen who had failed to score big in the middle order, surprisingly when they were sent to open the innings they have become match-winners. Now in this article we will talk about the five Indian batsmen who were promoted up the order to open the innings for Men in Blue and became the legends of the game. Sachin Tendulkar [caption id="attachment_88403" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sachin Tendulkar is a former India opener.[/caption] In his early days Sachin used to bat lower down the order at no.5 or 6, and for that reason most of the time he didn't get much opportunities to flourish his inborn talent. But when he finally got the chance to bat up the order the world saw a different Sachin Tendulkar. As a opener he gave Team India a quick start many times. Sachin got all but four of his 49 ODI centuries opening the batting. Inspired decision, then it was from the team management to promote Sachin up the order and make full use of his ability. Sourav Ganguly [caption id="attachment_88405" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sourav Ganguly is a former India captain.[/caption] He can be adjudged as India's one of the greatest captains ever. Like Sachin, Ganguly too batted lower down the order in his early days in the Indian team. Though after his remarkable Test debut in 1996, and then after the comeback in the ODI side, the team management finally took a decision to send him as an opener. With Sachin, he formed India's best opening partnership in ODIs and the two contributed in India's many wins as well. Sourav-Sachin duo hold the world record for maximum number of runs scored by an opening pair. The two have scored 6,362 runs together in 129 matches that includes 20 century partnerships and 22 fifty run partnerships. The 20 century partnerships for opening pair is also a world record. Rahul Dravid [caption id="attachment_88406" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Rahul Dravid has been considered as 'The Wall' of Indian Cricket.[/caption] Though former India skipper Rahul Dravid wasn't a regular opener in any format of the game, but whenever he was called to open the innings for the team he has done that job really well. Most of the time he used to frustrate any bowler with his solid technique and brilliant temperament. Very often, bowlers get frustrated by Dravid’s solidity and begin to lose their rhythm, and begin to dole out poor deliveries, that Dravid makes sure he doesn’t let go. Rohit Sharma [caption id="attachment_88252" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Rohit Sharma is Indian cricket team opener.[/caption] During his debut 2007, India boasted of a settled top order and that resulted in Rohit Sharma batting down the order. During an ODI encounter against England in early 2013, he opened the batting with Gautam Gambhir and made a gritty 83. He continued to fare well in the new batting position and currently, he boasts of a number of impressive records in limited overs cricket. Virender Sehwag [caption id="attachment_88407" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sehwag was a destructive Indian opener.[/caption] The explosive batsman made his debut at No. 6, scoring a century in his first Test innings at Bloemfontein. He played at the same positions for the next five matches before he was asked to open the innings at Lord’s in 2002. He went on to score 84 and carried on the form with his second Test century in the very next match. He continued to play his role brilliantly and was a mainstay in the Indian cricket team for a very long time.