New Delhi, May 31: Earlier, even his place in India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup squad was debated. Doubts were raised about his T20 strike rate. But once he did excel in IPL 2024 and was picked in Team India, his chances of opening the innings popped up.
Virat Kohli is rated as a 'run machine', a 'chase master'. But in T20 format, his strike rate has been not very exciting, feel many.
He usually does not open the innings for India. But in recent years, he has opened for his franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.
There has been varied opinions about who should open India's batting in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
While many feel it should be Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Kohli at No 3, some others want Rohit to play at No 3. Even few others have argued in favour of Rohit and Kohli opening combination.
Joining the debate, former India player Suresh Raina weighed in on who should open for India in the upcoming World Cup.
"I prefer Virat to play at No 3 in the World Cup. He's a run machine. Yashasvi is in good form, and I'm sure he will do well as an opener. With the pitches and conditions in the United States expected to be slow, in my opinion, Virat should play at No. 3," Raina told reporters at an event in New Delhi.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is a prodigy in the making as the 22-year-old has performed exceptionally well over the course of the past year which saw him being named in the 15-man squad that will take part in the T20 World Cup in the United States and Caribbean from June 2 (IST) till June 29.
The Kohli/Jaiswal dilemma will be one of the key points of contention for the side and it will be interesting to see the order that the skipper, Rohit Sharma fields during the side’s warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1.
While the opening combination debate is ikely to continue for some more time, it would be finally clear when take on foeld against Bangladesh on Saturday in the warm-up game.
If there would be still doubts, when India take the field on June five in their first group match against Ireland, those in confusion, will get a clear picture about the team management's stand on the issue. (With IANS support)
