Top 3 best opening pairs to watch out for in ODI World Cup 2023

The countdown for the 2023 ODI World Cup has started. The marquee tournament of cricket is back after more than 4 years and will begin on the 4th of October. With very little time left to finalize the team combinations, a lot is going into planning for each team. A lot of teams are yet to find their combinations. Likewise, some teams have a settled lineup already and are looking for final hurdles before the tournament. 

The opening pair is crucial for the success of the teams. In big tournaments like the ODI World Cup, the role of the openers becomes crucial for the success of the teams. The openers set a good platform for the middle and lower-order batters to continue the innings. Hence, teams need to have a good opening pair.

Here are the top opening pairs to watch out for in ODIs.  

#3 Quinton De Kock and Temba Bavuma 

Temba Bavuma and Quinton De Kock (Source: Twitter)

Quinton De Kock and Temba Bavuma have proven to be a good opening pair for South Africa since 2022. A year back, De Kock was the aggressor among the two. The South African captain used to anchor the innings in the period. The roles seem to have changed in the recent past, as De Kock is struggling a bit to get going at the top and Bavuma can do the job comfortably.  

Both the batters can give a quality start to the side. The left-right combination has worked well for the African side. De Kock can take his time to get settled, while his partner can go bonkers at the top. In fact, Bavuma has been consistent with the bat in the current year. The two batters will certainly be one of the topmost pairs to watch out for in the 2023 ODI World Cup.  

#2 David Warner and Mitchell Marsh 

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh (Source: Twitter)

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh have been two of the most aggressive batters in recent years. The Australian team has had success in recent months due to the brilliant starts provided by the pair. Although Travis Head has opened the innings for Australia in the last few matches, there has been doubt over his participation in the tournament due to the thumb injury.  

That leaves Australia with the left-right combination of Warner and Marsh. Both the batters are aggressive. That confirms one thing – An aggressive start for the team. Since Steve Smith would come after the duo, the two openers will look to score as many runs as possible at a brisk rate at the top. That makes them an exciting pair to watch out for.  

#1 Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill 

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (Source: Twitter)

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will go to the tournament as the best opening pair. No team has had a settled opening pair in the last few years and performed consistently like Rohit and Gill. The Indian opening pair has been consistent and aggressive as well. There is the experienced campaigner in Sharma, who has turned out to be an aggressive batter himself. 

On the other hand, Gill has turned out to be a sensation in ODIs. In the last 18 months, the youngster has been one of the best batters in the format. Gill has a fantastic record against spin and has performed well against most opponents. Gill is aggressive but can anchor the innings as well. According to the conditions and bowling lineups, the two batters can complement each other.