Virat Kohli's historic, unbeaten 122 with a 200 strike rate against Afghanistan during the Asia Cup led many experts to suggest he should permanently open for India. Yet, prior to the home T20I series against Australia, captain Rohit Sharma clarified that Kohli would be the third choice for the opening slot. He did note, however, that Kohli may open in several matches as the team fine-tunes its strategy for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
After Virat Kohli’s record-breaking unbeaten 122 with a strike rate of 200 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, many cricketing experts expressed that Kohli should open the batting permanently for India. But ahead of the T20I home series against Australia, India skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that the talismanic batter will be the third opener in the side. Rohit also hinted that Kohli might open the batting in a few matches as men in blue begin their final leg of preparations for the T20 World Cup.
Rohit acknowledged that Kohli's brilliant display against Afghanistan proved his versatility in any batting position. However, he pointed out that this doesn't mean the team management will ignore the massive amount of runs KL Rahul has consistently scored while opening. The captain confirmed that KL Rahul will be the primary opener for the T20 World Cup, adding that Rahul's impact often goes underappreciated.
The captain further emphasized that KL Rahul is a key player and that the team's tactical approach is very well-defined. Rohit highlighted that Rahul brings a unique set of skills to the team, describing him as a high-caliber player whose role at the top of the order is vital for the squad's balance.
Rohit also mentioned Kohli's track record as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, noting that he remains a 'definite option' for the team. He concluded that having multiple choices provides the squad with essential flexibility. India is set to face Australia in the first match of the series tomorrow at 7:30 pm at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.