Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
Virender Sehwag, the former Indian opener, has unveiled his selection of the top five batters in the current Indian Premier League season. Notably, his list excludes established names like Shubman Gill, Faf du Plessis, and Virat Kohli. Instead, Sehwag has opted for two uncapped cricketers in his top five. His decision was influenced by the belief that openers already enjoy significant opportunities, prompting him to focus on recognizing lesser-known players who have made a mark in the tournament. By choosing emerging talents, Sehwag acknowledges the dynamism and potential showcased by new faces, bringing a fresh perspective to the league’s narrative.
“Mere 5 Pandavas. Cricket’s Pandav. My pick for five batters in the IPL. I have not picked many openers because they get a lot of opportunities. The first batter who comes to my mind in Rinku Singh. I don’t think you would ask me the reason. Because it has never happened that a batter has won the team a match by hitting five straight sixes. Only Rinku Singh has done it. The second middle-order batter is Shivam Dube. He has hit 33 sixes, his strike-rate is over 160. Last few seasons have not been special but this year he came with a clear-cut mindset that he has to come and hit sixes,” Virender Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
“The third is a brilliant opener. I have to take his name because his brilliant batting has forced me to pick him up. Yashasvi Jaiswal. Then comes SKY. I am taking Suryakumar Yadav’s name because he was not in form. In international cricket he was getting zeroes. In IPL also he was not doing well at the start, but then he started doing well. Last, I can pick anybody by doing a toss because there are so many. But I will pick another middle-order batter and his name is Heinrich Klaasen. The team he was playing for (SRH), he was batting for them in the middle order, he made the most number runs. His ability to hit against spin and pace is rarely seen in a foreign player,” he added.