With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 fast approaching, cricket enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the performances of their favorite players. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has identified the opening combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler as his top pick for the upcoming season.
Chopra believes that Jaiswal’s exceptional form in recent times makes him a formidable force at the top of the order. “His 600-plus IPL season is almost loading,” Chopra said. “When you head into a tournament with such confidence, you bat at a different level.”
Complementing Jaiswal’s brilliance is Jos Buttler, who Chopra expects to bounce back from a disappointing IPL 2023 campaign. “He had a very ordinary season last year,” Chopra noted. “But after that, he did well in the SA20. And for how long will you keep Buttler quiet?”
Chopra also highlighted the potential of Chennai Super Kings’ opening pair, Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad. “You might get more consistency from Chennai because they have Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad,” he said. “Although Devon Conway’s recent form hasn’t been great, something happens to him as soon as he reaches Chennai.”
“Ruturaj Gaikwad must also be itching because he hasn’t played much cricket from the last IPL until now,” Chopra added. “It could be the most consistent kind of pair. It might not be very explosive but you can keep it towards the top in terms of consistency.”
Other notable opening combinations that Chopra mentioned include Mumbai Indians’ Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma and Harry Brook, and Punjab Kings’ Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal. However, he believes that Jaiswal and Buttler have the edge due to their current form and the potential for a long-term partnership.
