As Team India are ready to take on England in a five-match T20I series in Ahmedabad from tomorrow, questions going around regarding the opening pair as to who should fit into the place alongside Rohit Sharma? However, India captain Virat Kohli has revealed India’s openers for the series opener as well.
Kohli has confirmed that it will be KL Rahul who will open for India with Rohit Sharma in the first T20I against England. He also added that Shikhar Dhawan will be a ‘third opener’, ruling out the speculations of all three of them playing together in the playing XI.
“It’s quite simple, KL and Rohit have been performing at the top of the order for us and those two would start,” Virat Kohli said in a virtual press conference on the eve of the first of the five-match T20I series at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
“And if Rohit takes rest or Kl has a niggle or something Shikki (Shikhar Dhawan) obviously comes back as a third opener. The starting composition, Rohit and Rahul will start,” he further added.
Notably, Dhawan and Rahul opened for India in their last T20 series in Australia when Rohit Sharma was out of the squad due to his injury. However, with his return to the squad, it will be difficult for the team to select one between Dhawan and Rahul as there’s no doubt on Rohit’s place.
While speaking about the new faces like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia Kohli’s addition in the squad, Virat Kohli said: “We have made additions to the squad who can be X-Factors in the batting lineup. We want to see how they fare in the middle.”
However, Kohli stressed that Team India will play a free brand of cricket in the five-match T20 series. Keeping an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup later this year, this series will be important for both teams as well.
“We want to play free cricket, we have explosive batsmen in the team now. That’s exactly what we are trying to address. This time around you will see players bat more freely. I see us being much more free with our approach from this series onwards,” he concluded.
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