The selection committee of BCCI has delivered their final choice for the players who will represent India in the T20 World Cup. The squad is a tried and tested one, having competed in the Asia Cup recently. Decisions as such are obvious to attract many opinions, both supportive and opposing. And well honestly, they incline a fair bit towards the latter. Following the template to the T, this squad has and is still receiving opinions.
Reservations are many and now that this team has shown quite an unsatisfactory performance in the Asia Cup, these reservations have found validation. Initially, the chatter was about the dwindling abilities that India’s batting line-up has shown. Amidst this, Virat Kohli finally declared his return to form through a century. The century came when Virat Kohli opened the innings. And so, people were quick to vouch for him as an opener for the T20 World Cup. The inkling of hope that Kohli provided has surely mesmerized the masses.
Moreover, KL Rahul’s batting lately seems out of touch. Coming out of an injury and finding the rhythm back surely takes time. But that time has clashed with the important timeline of ACC and ICC championships. And thus, KL Rahul’s lack of impactful knocks has worried many. So, when the fan favourite Kohli claimed his form back, the netizens called for a change in the batting positions of both.
Virat Kohli not an option for opener as per Gautam Gambhir
Majority wants Virat Kohli the opener in T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/J7JvZJapvC
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 8, 2022
Many have opined that KL Rahul with his temperament and game awareness can provide stability to the middle order. The middle order has shown a lack of accountability lately. Rahul has played and even scored a century while batting at 4, so it wouldn’t be anything entirely new for him. However, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has strongly opposed the proposition.
Gambhir has strongly advocated for the batting line-up to be untouched. Virat Kohli best suits the third position, according to him. And so, KL remains the opener with Rohit Sharma while Suryakumar Yadav can wait and come after Kohli, as per him. Mainly, everything unchanged and unsurprising, if one may say.
Gambhir while talking about the proposition stated, “Don’t start this nonsense about him (Kohli) opening the batting.” “He can’t open the batting with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma (available). I even said this on air that there shouldn’t even be a debate about this. I will always be flexible about No. 3. If the openers bat out 10 overs, then I will have Suryakumar Yadav at No.3. If an early wicket falls then Kohli,” he added.
