Whenever the discussion aims to find out the most destructive opening pairs in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), fans and experts are quick to mention the legendary pair of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle. Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said that another pair could be even more destructive than Kohli and Gayle.
Cheteshwar Pujara talked about the opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head during the JioHotstar show. According to Pujara, people may consider the pair of Kohli and Gayle as the most destructive pair, but in the last few seasons, Head and Sharma have proved that they can be lethal against any bowling attack.
Pujara termed Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head as one of the most destructive opening pairs.
Without any hesitation, Pujara termed the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) openers as one of the most devastating opening pairs in IPL history as both Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head know how to challenge a class bowler.
“Over the last few seasons, from what we have seen of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, I can definitely say that they are one of the most destructive opening pairs in IPL history. Both are batsmen who know how to attack from the first ball. SRH have consistently crossed the 250-run mark in the last few seasons, thanks to them. No other team in the IPL has done this consistently”, Pujara said in the release.
No bowler wants to run and bowl: Pujara.
He further said, “When we talk about aggressive opening pairs in the IPL, the pair of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli come to mind. But this pair of Head and Abhishek is even more destructive. No bowler wants to bowl against an opening pair like Abhishek and Head.”
According to the statistics, Abhishek Sharma has scored 1,753 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad at an average of 26.56 and strike rate of 162.16 with one century and nine half-centuries. Travis Head has scored 941 runs at an average of 36.19 and a strike rate of 178.89, which includes one century and seven half-centuries. With Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head at the top of the batting order, SRH reached the final of the IPL 2024 season.
Most runs by an opening pair in an IPL season:
|
starting pairs |
IPL season runs |
Turn |
Season |
50/100 |
|
B Sai Sudarshan and Shubman Gill (GT) |
912 |
15 |
2025 |
4/3 |
|
Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli (RCB) |
707 |
15 |
2024 |
3/1 |
|
Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) |
849 |
15 |
2023 |
5/2 |
|
Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli (RCB) |
939 |
14 |
2023 |
5/3 |
|
Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw (DC) |
744 |
15 |
2021 |
4/2 |
|
Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) |
756 |
16 |
2021 |
5/2 |
|
Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul (PBKS) |
671 |
11 |
2020/21 |
3/2 |
|
Jonny Bairstow and David Warner (SRH) |
791 |
10 |
2019 |
3/4 |
|
Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner (SRH) |
646 |
14 |
2017 |
3/2 |
|
Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner (SRH) |
731 |
17 |
2016 |
5/1 |
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