Currently, The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most popular franchise tournament in the world. All the greats of world cricket have played in the IPL, which started in 2008. Like the other cricket leagues, the IPL often delivers high-stakes drama and unpredictable moments that define the course of a match.
In a few rare cases, bowlers, typically known for their skills with the ball, have been sent to open the batting—either to unsettle the opposition or fill in for a missing regular opener. While some of these bowlers found success, most of their opening careers were limited to one or two matches. Let’s take a look at the top 5 legendary bowlers who surprised everyone by opening the innings in IPL history.
1. Praveen Kumar (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Praveen Kumar made his mark in Indian cricket as a right-arm swing bowler capable of dismantling the opponent’s batting lineup in the opening overs. However, during his IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the team decided to test his batting skills after watching his aggressive strokes in practice.
The idea was to use him as a pinch-hitter in the powerplay to gather quick runs. Unfortunately, this gamble did not pay off. Praveen opened the innings twice for RCB but managed to score only six runs across both innings at a poor strike rate of 75.
2. Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)
Jofra Archer rose to fame with his incredible pace and impact performances, helping England clinch their maiden ODI World Cup. Besides his bowling, Archer’s big-hitting abilities at the end of innings earned him the reputation of a powerful lower-order batter.
In one IPL season, Rajasthan Royals were struggling with their opening pair and took the surprising decision to send Archer as an opener. Unfortunately, the experiment backfired as Archer was dismissed without scoring a single run in that match.
3. James Franklin (Mumbai Indians)
Former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin was a valuable player in white-ball cricket, known for his attacking batting, effective bowling, and exceptional fielding. Mumbai Indians acquired him for ₹5.5 crores in 2013, and he became a reliable lower-order finisher.
Though primarily recognized for his late-order heroics, Franklin’s stint as an opener for Mumbai Indians was surprisingly successful. In six matches as an opener, he scored 134 runs, with his best innings being a spectacular 79.
4. Washington Sundar (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Washington Sundar is typically seen as a disciplined bowler who can deliver tight spells in the powerplay and chip in with key wickets. While he regularly bats higher in domestic cricket, RCB’s star-studded lineup featuring Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell left Sundar few opportunities to showcase his batting skills.
However, during the 2021 IPL, regular opener Devdutt Padikkal was sidelined due to COVID-19. Sundar stepped in to open the innings alongside Virat Kohli in a match against Mumbai Indians. Unfortunately, he scored just 10 runs in his brief outing.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin (Chennai Super Kings)
One of the smartest cricketers of modern times, Ravichandran Ashwin has revolutionized off-spin bowling while constantly adding new variations to his arsenal. Although Ashwin started his career as a batsman, he rose to prominence as a bowler.
During his time with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Ashwin was allowed to open the innings during the 2013 IPL against Kolkata Knight Riders. Opening alongside Michael Hussey, Ashwin scored a modest 11 runs in that game.