“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.

I mean if this ain’t love… 😍♥️ #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/yFh9oAgj3v

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 20, 2021

“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.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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