Not Virat Kohli And Faf Du Plessis - Sunil Gavaskar Picks Best Opening Pair In IPL Right Now

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sunil Gavaskar believes that the Chennai Super Kings duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway are the best opening pair in the Indian Premier League (IPL) right now. Gavaskar was all praise for the two batters who played a massive role in guiding CSK to their record-equalling fifth title and placed them above the high-profile Royal Challengers Bangalore opening pair of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. In a recent interaction, Gavaskar was all praise for Conway and Ruturaj with a special emphasis on how they eased the pressure on CSK's No.4 and No. 5 batters. 

"That's been their advantage over the years. All these years, they have always had batters at the top who can take the attack to the opposition from the first ball itself and then they have got the finishers as well," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

"I feel their left and right-handed opening combination of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway is probably the best opening pair in the IPL because they always gave good starts last year. So the pressure was slightly eased on the players who used to come at No. 4 and No. 5," the legendary Indian batter added.

Gavaskar was very impressed with Chennai Super Kings' activities in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and he made a huge prediction regarding the MS Dhoni-led side. Gavaskar said that CSK lacked a little in bowling during the IPL 2023 but their additions have made them stronger in that department. 

“If you see the purchases they did at the auction table, the aspects they had to strengthen, it seemed like they lacked a little in bowling last year and in batting also they had to strengthen the middle order slightly after Ambati Rayudu's retirement, they have done all that. They have a good mix of youth and experience,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

“So, I feel CSK will definitely come in the top four as always. You cannot say any team ‘definitely yes' as favourites. However, the way the Chennai Super Kings have performed for so many years, they have qualified in 12 of the 16 editions. So it's likely to happen for the 13th time,” he added.

Topics mentioned in this article

Sunil Gavaskar Ruturaj Gaikwad Devon Conway Chennai Super Kings Virat Kohli Faf du Plessis IPL 2024 Cricket