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The excitement among cricket enthusiasts is palpable as India’s formidable duo, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, make their return to the T20I setup after an absence of over a year. With the T20 World Cup 2024 looming on the horizon, fans have been engrossed in discussions about the ideal batting combination, particularly whether Kohli should open alongside Rohit.
In the midst of the buzzing speculations regarding Kohli’s batting position for the T20 World Cup 2024, India’s veteran all-rounder Suresh Raina has now entered the fray and weighed in on the debate, offering a strategic perspective on why Kohli is not an ideal choice for the opening slot.
The comeback of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
The anticipation for the T20 World Cup 2024 reached new heights with the inclusion of Rohit and Virat Kohli in India’s T20I squad for the Afghanistan series. The duo, having been absent from the shortest format for over a year, is set to don the T20I jersey once again, igniting the hopes of fans for a triumphant return on the global stage.
Kohli’s opening stint and the dilemma
A seasoned campaigner for India across formats, Kohli has previously opened the innings for India in T20Is on many occasions. He also achieved decent success as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). But despite his prowess at the top, statistics and performance analysis reveal that Kohli has been at his best at the No. 3 position. As discussions about the T20 World Cup lineup intensify, fans are divided on whether Kohli should open alongside Rohit.
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Suresh Raina’s insightful perspective
Amid the speculation and opinions, former India cricketer Raina has shed light on the strategic aspect of India’s batting lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Uttar Pradesh-born batter emphasized the importance of Rohit and Kohli’s experience in the squad, especially considering the challenging pitches in the USA and the West Indies, the venues for the tournament.
“If you look at the World Cup venues (in the USA and the West Indies), the wicket will be a bit tricky. India will need the experience of Rohit and Kohli there. Kohli is about to make 12000 runs in T20 cricket. So, their presence will boost India’s batting. Their presence will certainly better India’s chances to win the T20 WC,” said Raina as quoted by TOI.
Raina reveals why Kohli should not open the innings with Rohit
On Kohli’s batting position, Raina argued that Kohli’s wealth of experience makes him an invaluable asset in the middle order and that the Delhi-born batter could provide solidity to the Indian lineup and play the role of a rescue artist when needed by batting at no. 3 position.
In his assessment, Raina further recommended paving the way for young and fearless openers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, or Shubman Gill at the top.
“I think Kohli should bat at No. 3. His experience will bring in some solidity, especially in the challenging pitches in the US and the Caribbean. There are fearless, young cricketers like Jaiswal, Rinku Singh or Shubman Gill but Rohit and Kohli will give the unit a lot of solidity,” the veteran all-rounder revealed.
