“I’d like to partner Rohit at the top”: Virat Kohli hints at opening with Rohit Sharma in T20 World Cup 2021

Virat Kohli hints at opening with Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain seems to have zeroed in on the team’s T20I opening combination.

India captain Virat Kohli was all praises for the young players of the team who grabbed respective opportunities throughout the series to the extent that they ended up even outplaying senior players on a few occasions.

From Shreyas Iyer scoring a half-century under pressure at an unusual batting position to debutants such as Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav scoring individual half-centuries, the Indian middle-order delivered as and when the situation required them to.

“How Shreyas [Iyer] batted in the last game and the responsibility he showed in the first game. Ishan [Kishan] was brilliant. I was particularly pleased with Surya [Suryakumar Yadav],” Kohli told Star Sports during the post-match presentation ceremony after clinching the series 3-2 against England.

Furthermore, the Man of the Series-winner also lauded his bowlers especially Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made an international comeback after more than a year. While Shardul Thakur might have gone for a few extra runs, he was instrumental in the last two matches with respect to picking wickets at crucial junctures.

“Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] coming back and bowling like that. Still have Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah] to come back. Don’t have much in terms of negatives. Confidence level of [Shardul] Thakur after that series in Australia is sky high. With the ball his strength is his belief. Proper cricketer. Giving us runs with the bat as well,” Kohli said.

Virat Kohli hints at opening with Rohit Sharma in T20 World Cup 2021

Continuing to experiment with the batting order, Kohli himself accompanied vice-captain Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. In Sharma, Kohli opened the batting with his fifth opening partner in his eighth innings as a T20I opener.

With the senior-duo going on to stitch a brisk 94-run opening partnership, Kohli seems to have locked himself at the top alongside his deputy. In a plot which has it in it to fruition for India, one hopes the team management won’t make further changes. It is worth mentioning that Kohli had himself announced Sharma and Lokesh Rahul as India’s first-choice opening pair in T20Is before the series.

“Have batted in different positions in the past. We do have a solid middle-order now. It’s about the two best players getting maximum no of balls in T20 cricket. I’d like to partner Rohit [Sharma] at the top and the other guys feel confident when one of us are in. I’d like that to continue,” Kohli added.