It came as a shock to many when Rishabh Pant stepped up to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the second ODI. This was a debut move for Pant at the top of the order in the 50-over format. The shift was even more surprising given that KL Rahul was back in the lineup after taking a personal break during the first ODI. Pant played carefully at first, but just as he seemed to find his form, he threw his wicket away.
Rohit Sharma mentioned that while Pant opening might please the crowd, it shouldn't be seen as a permanent fixture. He noted that he is currently in a phase of experimentation as captain, trying out different strategies and roles, admitting that he's been urged to explore new directions with the team.
Looking ahead to the final ODI against the Windies, Rohit gave a strong indication regarding the openers, suggesting that Shikhar Dhawan will likely reclaim his spot. Dhawan, the hard-hitting left-hander, missed the first two matches after testing positive for COVID-19. Although he started training again before the second game, the coaching staff decided to wait until he was 100% fit.
Rohit believes that Dhawan needs a bit of match practice to get back up to speed. He emphasized that the goal isn't just immediate results, but rather strengthening the squad through trial and error, even if it means risking an occasional loss. This strategy suggests that KL Rahul may be shifted to a number four position in the middle order.