IPL 2017: Five Players Who Can Replace KL Rahul As Opener In Royal Challengers Bangalore

Mar 31, 2017 at 2:31 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
IPL 2017: Five Players Who Can Replace KL Rahul As Opener In Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the finalists in the previous season, are in for tough times even before the start of the tenth season of the IPL. The franchise will begin their quest for winning the maiden title against defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament opener. However, at the moment, some serious problems seem to be hindering the preparation of the team.

RCB already was anxiously waiting for the final fitness report of their skipper Virat Kohli when KL Rahul, their star opener, was ruled out of the season due to a shoulder injury. This sudden setback has left the Bengaluru side in search of a replacement to fill the opening slot that is now been left vacant.

Luckily there is no shortage of suitable names. RCB already has a couple of that can perform the openers’ role in the XI. Also, there are a few other better options to choose from as well. Here in this article, Sportzwiki tries to list five such names who can replace KL Rahul in the RCB setup.

Mandeep Singh (In squad):

Mandeep Singh happens to be the most appropriate name to replace KL Rahul in the opening slot. The right-hander has a good capability of switching gears while batting which means he can be used as a support to Gayle for a steady start and once set can go after the bowling attack. RCB has the option to test the capability of the 25-year-old who has been a top order batsman right from the start of his cricketing career. He played only one match last season and must be hoping for some good opportunities this season. If the experiment with him in the top order works RCB might end up finding another great batting product.

Shane Watson (In squad):

Shane Watson’s credentials as an opener are impressive. He was once the regular opener for Australian national team in all formats and will provide aggression and firepower in the top order which already boasts of some really dangerous names. Therefore, if there is someone who can replace Rahul immediately as the opener, then it has to be Watson. The seam bowling all-rounder has been a regular in the starting XI in most of the matches and can seamlessly adjust to the change in the batting position without much trouble.

Alex Hales:

Alex Hales was one of the most stunning names in the ‘unsold list’ of IPL Auctions. Hales represents the new-age English batting approach and has been one of the key men who have made England one the most dangerous and explosive limited overs team in the world. Hales is versatile and has experience of batting with the same flair in position starting from the No.1 to No.7. Therefore, including Hales, who is also an occasional wicket-keeper, as a replacement gives RCB an attacking opening option who can smother the opposition bowling attack within no time. The only point of concern would his availability for the entire season as national duty might see him leave during the last phase of the tournament.

Unmukt Chand:

As far as team line-up is concerned, including a domestic name in the team as a replacement for KL Rahul is the smartest thing to do as it will ensure the setup remains balanced. In this case, the only better player, apart from Mandeep Singh, who seems capable of filling Rahul’s place is Delhi’s, Unmukt Chand. The attacking right-hander has been around for some time and also has plenty of IPL experience. Chand is also currently in form and struck back to back half centuries against Kerala and Uttar Pradesh leading his team Delhi to wins in both the matches.

Tamim Iqbal:

Tamim Iqbal also appears to be a good option although the chance of him making a cut looks very slim. The Bangladeshi batsman looks like a perfect fit for the opener’s role. The 28-year-old, who had placed himself in the IPL auction but went unsold, is highly famous for being a powerful hitter against the new ball and enjoys the monopoly of being the best opener in Bangladesh. He has been a consistent performer in T20 leagues such as the Caribbean Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League and Pakistan Super League. The left-hander has been previously been a part of the IPL as a part of the now defunct Pune Warriors.

Related Article
I Want To Respect Their Decision And Wait Till January – Tamim Iqbal Opens Up On His Future With Bangladesh Team
I Want To Respect Their Decision And Wait Till January – Tamim Iqbal Opens Up On His Future With Bangladesh Team

Nov 28, 2023, 1:45 PM


ODI World Cup 2023: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Seeks Clarity From Shakib Al Hasan And Tamim Iqbal Regarding Their Future Plans – Reports
ODI World Cup 2023: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Seeks Clarity From Shakib Al Hasan And Tamim Iqbal Regarding Their Future Plans – Reports

Nov 10, 2023, 8:53 AM


Bangladesh Coach Chandika Hathurusingha Refuses To Address Shakib Al Hasan’s TV Interview On About Tamim Iqbal
Bangladesh Coach Chandika Hathurusingha Refuses To Address Shakib Al Hasan’s TV Interview On About Tamim Iqbal

Oct 7, 2023, 12:27 PM


I Think Tamim Iqbal Deserves This Minimum Respect – Mashrafe Mortaza On Bangladesh Opener’s Omission From World Cup Squad
I Think Tamim Iqbal Deserves This Minimum Respect – Mashrafe Mortaza On Bangladesh Opener’s Omission From World Cup Squad

Sep 27, 2023, 4:36 PM


Tamim Iqbal Retires From T20Is After Bangladesh Clean Swept West Indies In ODI Series
Tamim Iqbal Retires From T20Is After Bangladesh Clean Swept West Indies In ODI Series

Jul 17, 2022, 4:57 PM


Shakib Al Hasan And Tamim Iqbal Return In Bangladesh Test Squad For South Africa Tour
Shakib Al Hasan And Tamim Iqbal Return In Bangladesh Test Squad For South Africa Tour

Mar 4, 2022, 11:37 AM