Most Dangerous T20 Opening Pair: As the best batters get ready to score runs from the top of the order, we rank the opening pair for each team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. At the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, getting off to a fast start will be just as important as building a strong base, and the top opening pairs will be key to setting up their teams for success.
We ranked the T20 World Cup opening partnerships by taking into account the MRF Tires T20I Batting Rankings, past performance, and recent form and decided that these are the Most Dangerous T20 Opening Pair in world.
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Top 10 Most Dangerous T20 Opening Pair
1. Pakistan
Pakistan has the best opening lineup going into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 because it has two of the top three batters in the MRF Tyres T20I Batting Rankings. Captain Babar Azam and star wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan have scored more runs together than any other opening pair in T20Is. Their recent performances against England and in the Asia Cup show that they are in dangerous form.
The two of them were also two of the top three run scorers at last year’s T20 World Cup. They will be important again if Pakistan wants to win the title, since their middle order doesn’t look as strong.
Babar Azam
ICC T20I batting ranking: 3
Career average / strike rate: 43.41 / 130.03
Latest T20I scores: 4, 87*, 9, 36, 8
Mohammad Rizwan: Most dangerous opener in the world
ICC T20I batting ranking: 1
Career average / strike rate: 52.53 / 128.57
Latest T20I scores: 1, 63, 88, 8, 88*
2. India
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have been one of the most dangerous opening pairs for more than five years, and they will be important to India’s chances of making up for a bad T20 World Cup just a year later.
Last year, Rahul scored the most runs for India at the tournament, but Rohit has a history of scoring a lot at the biggest events and will now want to lead from the front as captain.
KL Rahul
ICC T20I batting ranking: 14
Career average / strike rate: 39.57 / 140.40
Latest T20I scores: 57, 51*, 1, 10, 55
Rohit Sharma
ICC T20I batting ranking: 16
Career average / strike rate: 31.94 / 140.59
Latest T20I scores: 0, 43, 0, 17, 46
3. New Zealand
Martin Guptill, 36, has been in several spectacular duos and may form another with Devon Conway. Conway batted first against the West Indies and made fast starts in all three T20Is.
While Finn Allen is another option, expect the experienced combination to lead New Zealand to a Men’s white-ball championship.
Devon Conway
ICC T20I batting ranking: 7
Career average / strike rate: 47.2 / 138.28
Latest T20I scores: 21, 42, 43, 46, 36*
Martin Guptill
ICC T20I batting ranking: 10
Career average / strike rate: 31.79 / 135.8
Latest T20I scores: 15, 20, 16, 2, 45
4. Australia
The defending champs don’t know their favorite opening duo. Aaron Finch batted fourth in the latest T20I against the West Indies but should open with David Warner.
The two 35-year-olds are in good T20I form, but Cameron Green might be a weapon for the hosts if called up.
Aaron Finch
ICC T20I batting ranking: 6
Career average / strike rate: 34.97 / 144.88
Latest T20I scores: 58, 7, 31, 22, 29
David Warner
ICC T20I batting ranking: 48
Career average / strike rate: 33.3 / 141.18
Latest T20I scores: 14, 39, 21, 70*, 53
5. Sri Lanka
Two of Sri Lanka’s top batsmen from the Asia Cup will begin the batting at the T20 World Cup.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis scored heavily in the Asia Cup and can build on that trend in the First Round.
Pathum Nissanka
ICC T20I batting ranking: 8
Career average / strike rate: 29.66 / 115.58
Latest T20I scores: 8, 55*, 52, 35, 20
Kusal Mendis
ICC T20I batting ranking: 56
Career average / strike rate: 20.90 / 126.47
Latest T20I scores: 0, 0, 57, 36, 60
6. Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s batting order has changed a lot this year, however Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai are their openers.
The teenage combination formed numerous excellent partnerships during the Asia Cup, with 20-year-old goalie Gurbaz especially impressive against Sri Lanka.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
ICC T20I batting ranking: 18
Career average / strike rate: 25.87 / 138.46
Latest T20I scores: 0, 17, 84, 11, 40
Hazratullah Zazai
ICC T20I batting ranking: 21
Career average / strike rate: 32 / 138.92
Latest T20I scores: 0, 21, 13, 23, 37*
7. England
Jos Buttler sat out England’s T20I series against Pakistan but will open with Alex Hales or Phil Salt.
Buttler can punish careless bowling early but must regain form after a layoff. Hales can also take control of an innings but must get more good beginnings.
Jos Buttler
ICC T20I batting ranking: 26
Career average / strike rate: 32.75 / 142.57
Latest T20I scores: 14, 29, 22, 18, 4
Alex Hales
ICC T20I batting ranking: 166
Career average / strike rate: 30.06 / 136.98
Latest T20I scores: 18, 27, 1, 5, 26
8. South Africa
Temba Bavuma is ready to return following elbow surgery and should join Quinton de Kock, but South Africa may open with Reeza Hendricks.
De Kock’s exquisite striking is important to their early starts, especially if Bavuma continues his dismal scoring before his injury.
Quinton de Kock
ICC T20I batting ranking: 12
Career average / strike rate: 32.25 / 134.12
Latest T20I scores: 68, 69*, 1, 7, 7
Temba Bavuma
ICC T20I batting ranking: 89
Career average / strike rate: 23.54 / 116.49
Latest T20I scores: 3, 0, 0, *8, 8
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