5 India cricketers who opened the batting and bowling in the same ODI

Only one player has opened the batting and bowling in the same ODI more than two times.

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Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

In all these years, India hasn’t produced many all-rounders who can bat and bowl equally well. There are just a handful of players who have made a name for themselves in this category. While a few of them went on to represent the country for a long while, the others weren’t so fortunate. So, in such a scenario, it is a rarity that a player gets to open the batting and bowling in the same ODI.

Only one player opened the batting and bowling in the same ODI more than two times. This clearly gives one an indication that all those players who have done the same belong to a rare category. On that note, here are the players who were lucky enough to open the batting as well as the bowling in ODI cricket for India:

1. Kapil Dev – 1 ODI

Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

The legendary Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, is the best all-rounder that India has ever produced. With his heroics, he managed to inspire an entire generation to take up the sport. At one point in time, he was highest wicket-taker ever in Test cricket. The Haryana Hurricane, for one time in his long career, opened the batting as well as the bowling for India in ODI cricket.

While he batted at seven for a long part of his career, there were times he batted up the order as well. Towards the end of his career, he got an opportunity to open the innings.

In the 1992 World Cup, he came out to bat along with Krishnamachari Srikkanth in a game against Zimbabwe. However, he scored just 10 runs in that game. With the ball, he conceded just 6 runs in 4 overs in that rain-curtailed game.

2. Virender Sehwag – 1 ODI

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Virender Sehwag was one of the fiercest openers of his times. He only knew one way to bat and the being the ‘Sehwag’ way. Irrespective of who the bowler was, what the conditions were, how the pitch behaved, he always fancied sending the ball to the boundary like a ‘tracer bullet’.

In his long career, the Nawab of Najafgarh gave India several fabulous starts. Also, he used to bowl quite regularly in the initial parts of his career. Since India didn’t have many all-round options, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid fancied giving him the ball more often than not.

In a game against Australia in 2005, Sehwag was asked to open the bowling by Dravid since the Aussies had two left-handers in the form of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden. However, the off-break bowler couldn’t pick up any wicket. In the run-chase, he bagged a duck and India lost the game by 77 runs.

3. Irfan Pathan – 1 ODI

Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Irfan Pathan started off as a brilliant swing bowler who could also bat a bit. When he was drafted into the side, he seemed as if he could end India’s search for a good all-rounder. With his ability to swing the ball, he often annihilated the oppositions.

While he batted lower down the order in the early parts of his career, things changed in the Greg Chappell era. The former Australian promoted Irfan up the order when he was the coach. At number three, the Baroda cricketer played some great knocks.

In 2005, he also opened the innings on one instance, but the move didn’t work as he perished for a duck. It is believed that the added pressure on Irfan to deliver with the bat up the order led to his downfall with the ball. He represented India in 120 ODIs and last played in 2012.

4. Roger Binny – 2 ODIs

Roger Binny
Roger Binny. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Roger Binny was an integral part of the ’83 winning squad and had an important role to play in that tournament. Furthermore, he managed to contribute to the team’s win in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket. An opening bowler, Roger could swing the ball really well.

While he is an aggressive batsman, it was his bowling that helped him hold on to his place in the national team. The senior Binny represented India in 72 ODIs where he picked up 77 wickets. While his batting numbers aren’t great, the management still decided to send him to open the innings.

In the Benson and Hedges World Series 1980-81, Roger opened the innings in two games against Australia. He had decent outings in those games where he scored 31 and 21 runs respectively. However, he never got to open the innings again after that because of some quality players in the ranks.

5. Manoj Prabhakar – 45 ODIs

Manoj Prabhakar
Manoj Prabhakar. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

As Kapil Dev was reaching the twilight of his career, Manoj Prabhakar came up as a good alternative. He was a genuine all-rounder, more known for his bowling ability. Manoj was a regular part of the Indian team during the ‘90s.

He represented India in 130 ODI games during his career. The Delhi cricketer picked up 157 wickets in the ODI format and was one of the strong assets for the team. Moreover, his batting was equally good, and he was quite successful in the opener’s role.

In 45 games, he opened the batting as well as the bowling in the same game – the most for any Indian player. He also hit 11 fifties and 2 centuries during his career which had to come to an abrupt end because of his alleged match-fixing involvement.

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