IPL 2023: Top 5 Indian opening batters hogging the limelight this season | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In the final week of its league phase and with most franchises still jostling to grab a playoffs spot, the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League has been nothing short of a blockbuster.
Returning to its traditional home-and-away format, the competition this year has been a roller-coaster, enthralling the fans with some outstanding performances. With the match run aggregates crossing 400, a record 13 times so far, it won’t be wrong to say that the season has seen a run-fest and has mostly revolved around the batters.
The Indian batters, the openers in particular have performed remarkably well when it has come to scoring runs for their teams. Most of the high-scoring encounters this season have been about the openers unleashing fire and fury on the opposition. While some of the established faces have continued to shine, newbies too have managed to hog the limelight with their dazzling approach of scoring runs up-top.
TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at the top performing Indian openers of the season so far.
*All statistics in this article are updated till before the PBKS vs DC match on Wednesday, May 17.
SHUBMAN GILL
Matches: 13
Runs: 576
Highest score: 101
Average: 48.00
Strike rate: 146.19
50s: 4
100s: 1
Be it representing India at the highest level or playing for his franchise the Gujarat Titans, it has been a Shumban Gill year thus far. An U-19 talent who had great potential maturing into a consistent performer across formats.

AFP Photo
The highest Indian run-getter and second overall on the list, Gill has been absolutely phenomenal this IPL season.
The defending champions recently became the first team to qualify for the playoffs and they have been outstanding in all the departments. Gill has led the batting unit from the front.
With 576 runs in 13 outings, the opener has so far has averaged a staggering 48 and has been the backbone of the Titans batting unit. Taking on the opposition bowlers right from the word go, Gill’s dazzling batting approach has been a treat to watch for the fans and the pundits alike. With four fifties and a ton already to his name and a strike rate of over 146, the 23-year-old, has on most occasions, managed to dominate the opposition bowlers.
A personal fastest half-century and a maiden IPL ton have been the big highlights of Gill’s batting. He has already registered his personal best IPL season ever. If the youngster continues to improve on his best run ever, a successful title defence for the Titans might turn out to be a cake walk.
YASHASVI JAISWAL
Matches: 13
Runs: 575
Highest score: 124
Average: 47.91
Strike rate: 166.18
50s: 4
100s: 1
From selling pani puris on the streets of Mumbai to sleeping in tents to becoming a run machine on the biggest cricketing stage, it has been a fairy tale season for the swashbuckling opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

IANS Photo
Coming into the tournament having scored big runs in the domestic circuit and oozing in confidence, Jaiswal predicted his best ever IPL season and the left-hander has achieved it in some style. The third highest run-scorer of the season and second on the list of Indian batters so far, the 21-year-old has made headlines throughout the season.
Despite his team Rajasthan Royals, the runners-up from last season, still battling for a playoffs spot, Jaiswal has been the talk of the town.
Fastest fifty ever in IPL history (13 balls), a maiden ton, 575 overall runs and a strike rate of over 166, Jaiswal has spared no opposition bowlers in this edition.
Such has been the impact of Jaiswal’s destructive batting at the top that the national selectors, who are looking for an overhaul in the Indian T20 batting setup are likely to give him his maiden call-up sooner rather than later.
Regardless of the position the Royals finish in this season, the consistency Jaiswal has shown this year, his likely India call-up, at least in the shortest format is not far away.
RUTURAJ GAIKWAD
Matches: 13
Runs: 425
Highest score: 92
Average: 38.63
Strike rate: 146.55
50s: 2
The Orange Cap holder in the 2021 edition, Ruturaj Gaikwad played a huge role in Chennai Super Kings grabbing their fourth IPL title. But the very next season, Ruturaj’s form and runs dipped and so did CSK’s fortunes as they finished at a lowly ninth spot.

AP Photo
In the ongoing 16th edition, Ruturaj once again has found consistency and that is reflected in his team’s standing as well, as the Southern giants sit pretty in second place and are on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs.
There haven’t been too many big runs from the 26-year-old but the 30s and 40s Ruturaj has scored at the top and the partnerships he has forged with New Zealander Devon Conway at the top of the innings have worked like a charm for Chennai.
With 425 runs under his belt so far in 13 matches, Ruturaj currently sits in 7th spot on the list of leading run getters.
In the last couple of matches, Ruturaj couldn’t do much, but with the business end of the season now playing out, the youngster would be looking to get back to his absolute best.
ISHAN KISHAN
Matches: 13
Runs: 425
Highest score: 75
Average: 32.69
Strike rate: 144.55
50s: 3
A price tag of Rs 15.25 crore weighed heavily on the shoulders of Ishan Kishan last season, and the stylish left-hander had a forgettable outing. And so did his franchise Mumbai Indians, who finished last.

ANI Photo
Being in-and-out of the national team since then, Ishan didn’t quite have the consistent run he was looking for. But all that changed when he got to the IPL this year. As the fortunes changed for Ishan, it did help his team’s cause as well as Mumbai are back on their feet with the five-time champions currently sitting fourth on the points table.
The destructive MI opener started the season on a slow note but has picked up pace with the business end of the tournament currently underway. With 425 runs in 13 outings, Ishan is currently the fourth highest scoring Indian opener of the season.
The strike rate of 144 so far has been impressive with three fifties to his name but Ishan would be the first one to agree that he has not delivered at par with his tremendous talent yet. With Mumbai now within touching distance of the playoffs, it is the perfect time for Ishan to get back to his brutal best, signs of which were quite evident during his knock in the recent game against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.
SHIKHAR DHAWAN
Matches: 9
Runs: 356
Highest score: 99*
Average: 50.85
Strike rate: 143.54
50s: 3
In the twilight of his career, old war-horse Shikhar Dhawan’s never give up attitude is still going strong. Despite missing out on three games this season with injury, Dhawan has been the most-consistent run-getter among the Indian openers, which is reflected in his average of almost 51.

PTI Photo
Such has been the impact of Dhawan the batter that he has been the sole guiding light in what can be labelled as an underperforming Punjab Kings batting unit.
With 356 runs to his name in 9 matches, Dhawan is currently the leading run-scorer for his team and is the fifth highest scoring Indian opening batsman of the season.
With three fifties and a highest score of 99 not out and a strike rate of over 143, Dhawan along with captaining the side has led from the front with the bat.
With just two league games to go now for Punjab and a playoff spot on the line, Dhawan would love to take his game a notch higher and take his team to the knockouts.