The excitement of IPL 2026 is at its peak but the figures of this season have raised concerns for many big teams. While in the T20 format, the first six overs i.e. powerplay decide the course of the game, the opening pairs of some teams are far behind in terms of run-scoring and strike-rate. Data analysis of the first 22 matches clearly shows that some big-name pairs have not made the impact on the field that was expected.
If we analyze the given data, it is clearly visible that the opening pairs of many teams could not give a solid start even in 4 to 5 matches. Low runs, slow pace and small partnerships have become a problem for these teams, putting additional pressure on the middle order. The opening pairs of Delhi Capitals (DC), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have proved to be the weakest link.
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| Team | opening pair | match | partnership run | balls |
| RR | Yashswi Jaiswal / Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 5 | 247 | 153 |
| MI | Rohit Sharma/Ryan Rickleton | 4 | 233 | 125 |
| SRH | Abhishek Sharma / Travis Head | 5 | 221 | 104 |
| BKS | Prabhsimran Singh / Priyansh Arya | 4 | 167 | 72 |
| RCB | Virat Kohli / Phil Salt | 4 | 166 | 100 |
| DC | KL Rahul/Pathum Nissanka | 4 | 139 | 86 |
| KKR | Ajinkya Rahane / Finn Allen | 5 | 136 | 71 |
| CSK | Sanju Samson / Ruturaj Gaikwad | 5 | 124 | 81 |
| GT | Gill/Sudarshan (main pair)* | 3 | 101 | 66 |
| LSG | Marsh/Markram(main pair)* | 3 | 92 | 62 |
- *LSG (Lucknow Super Giants): The opening combination of Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram was used.
Marsh-Pant scored 19 runs in 18 balls in 1 match
Marsh-Markram added 92 runs in 62 balls in 3 matches. - *GT(Gujarat Titans): Shubhman Gill, Sai Sudarshan and Kumar Kushagra were tried in the opening.
Sudarshan-Kushagra scored 78 runs in 48 balls in 1 match.
Gill-Sudarshan made a partnership of 101 runs in 66 balls in 3 matches.
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Flop show of Lucknow and Delhi openers
This time the opening slot remains a puzzle for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The team tried some experiments but the pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram could add only 92 runs in 3 matches. In a match of LSG, Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant started the match but both scored only 19 runs. On the other hand, for Delhi Capitals (DC), KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka have scored 139 runs in 4 matches but these runs were scored after facing 86 balls.
Big concern for Chennai and Kolkata
Sanju Samson has performed brilliantly for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) individually by scoring 185 runs but he could not keep pace with Ruturaj Gaikwad (63 runs) as the opening pair. The pair have scored only 124 runs in 81 balls in 5 matches. Similarly, for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen have added 136 runs in 5 matches. These runs made in 71 balls are not giving the team the kind of aggression that KKR fans are expecting.
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The opening pairs of these teams made a strong start
While some teams are struggling, some opening pairs looked in great form. Mumbai Indians’ pair of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton scored 233 runs (125 balls) in 4 matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head added 221 runs (104 balls), while Rajasthan Royals’ Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi proved to be the strongest opening pair by scoring 247 runs (153 balls).
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