Keeping in mind India’s busy upcoming calendar where they will play three T20 Internationals each with Australia and South Africa, India skipper Rohit Sharma opined that promoting Virat Kohli up the order to open the innings remain an option but KL Rahul will be the first choice opener in the T20 World Cup.
“We understand the quality of all our players and what they bring to us. But Virat Kohli opening is an option for us, we will always keep that in mind. Since we have not taken the third opener, he opens for his franchise and he has done really well while playing at that position, so it is a definite option for us,” said Rohit Sharma said ahead of the T20 International series against Australia.
“We are so happy the way Virat played against Afghanistan, we haven’t taken the third opener in the World Cup so he is an option for us if needed in the mega event,” he said.
However, talking about the opening pair in the T20 World Cup in Australia, he said, “KL Rahu will open for us at the T20 World Cup. We are not going to experiment with that position. His performance often go unnoticed. He is an important player for us,” he said.
As India were dealt with many crucial injury blows, they still have much to look forward to and can take solace in the return to form of their star batter Virat Kohli. The 33-year-old had taken a month-long break from cricket to focus on his mental health and returned all guns blazing in the Asia Cup.
Kohli broke his century drought that spanned 1,020 days, scoring his 71st international hundred when he smashed an unbeaten 122 against Afghanistan. He finished as the second highest run-getter in the tournament with 276 runs at an impressive 92, striking at 147.59.
“It is always nice to have options available for you. It is important going into a World Cup that you have flexibility. You want the players to be in best shape batting at any position. When we try and do something new, that does not mean that’s a problem,” he added.