Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are two top teams. One has five IPL titles, while RCB is often known as always the bridesmaid but never the bride. What came as a shock to many RCB fans is that they always have some of the best players at the top but have not achieved the desirable results. If we talk about openers, players like Chris Gayle came and became superstar for RCB, whereas MI backed Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan at the top, and the team has performed exceptionally well. Now, if we look at it, MI has released Ishan Kishan, leaving only one confirmed opener, Rohit Sharma. On the other hand, RCB has Virat Kohli, who is set to perform well. But what about their partners? Both MI and RCB have a few options to open with their star players. So, if we do all the permutations and combinations, which team has the better opening pair? Let’s see both teams opening options and see which one stands out.
MI vs RCB: Who has the better opening pair
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
We do have one confirmed name, Virat Kohli, who is likely going to open for RCB. Kohli has scored more than 8,000 runs in this cash-rich league, and we can expect him to do well in IPL 2025 as well. Another name gaining attention alongside him is Phil Salt. RCB went all out and acquired the player for a hefty amount, and now they will look to place him where he can perform wonders. Salt is an extremely good player at the top with his power-packed batting, and his aggressive shot-making and strike rate, hovering around 150 in T20 cricket, make him a strong asset. He is surely going to be good for RCB, and the opening pair of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt could be the best for RCB in IPL 2025.
Mumbai Indians
Again, one spot is confirmed for Rohit Sharma, while the other two spots will be a battle between Will Jacks and Ryan Rickelton. MI may go with Ryan Rickelton, the South African, who can keep wickets and play hard-hitting innings. However, if we compare this with RCB’s strengths, RCB certainly looks stronger at the top with consistent players such as Virat Kohli and Phil Salt. But we cannot underestimate the batting prowess of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. If Rickelton doesn’t open with Sharma, the best option alongside him would be Will Jacks, who has an impressive record as an opener in T20 leagues around the world. If this pair is chosen, MI can put up a strong fight against the RCB pair and possibly change their results this time.
