Virat Kohli Or Yashasvi Jaiswal – The opening dilemma: The Indian cricket team is all set to lock horns against Ireland in their first match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. While the excitement for the upcoming match is at its peak, there are still some doubts about the opening combination.
The opening combination for the Men in Blue has become one of the most talked about topics off-lately, with Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal competing for the second opener’s spot.
Virat Kohli Or Yashasvi Jaiswal – Who Should Open With Rohit Sharma?
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Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli was in stellar form in the recently concluded 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League, where he amassed over 700 runs. However, Kohli’s runs came at a strike rate of 154.69 – his best in an IPL season, which was the standout feature of his batting. Though initially he was criticized for his strike rate in the middle overs against spinners, but he made a massive turnaround and impressed one and all with his stunning performances.
Many criticized Kohli for his slow strike rate during the IPL 2024, including former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. But just like how Kohli made a turnaround with his performances, the legendary captain has also taken a U-turn and has backed Kohli to open with Rohit Sharma in the much-awaited IND vs IRE match tonight. Gavaskar also highlighted how Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn’t been in great form off-lately.
Indian Legends Backed Kohli To Open The Innings With Rohit Sharma
In an interaction with Star Sports, following the end of the T20 World Cup opener between USA and Canada, Gavaskar said: “Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers. The way Kohli has batted, particularly in the second half of the IPL, he deserves to open the batting with Rohit Sharma, the captain. Seriously, good players are good players. They can bat anywhere, you know whether they’re right and left hand.”
He added: “So no, I don’t think. It’s very good to talk on television about left hand-right hand combination, good players are good players. In Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, you have got 2 terrific and 2 fantastic batters. The kind of form Kohli has shown in the IPL, he has to open the batting.”
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly also backed Virat Kohli to open the innings for team India and play the anchor role.
He feels that it will be important for team India if Virat Kohli plays with the same freedom in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as he did in the IPL 2024.
“I would open with Virat and Rohit. I want Virat to bat the way he did for RCB in the second half of the IPL. He has to bat with freedom. Needless to say, he is a great player, but for India to do well, Virat will have to bat with freedom like he did in the IPL. So my choice would be Virat and Rohit at the top of the order,” Ganguly told Revsportz.
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Talking about Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young talent wasn’t in great form in the IPL 2024. Jaiswal was seen struggling to score runs for Rajasthan Royals. He amassed 435 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 155, which includes 1 half-century and 1 century.
Jaiswal Has Also Received Some Strong Support
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan backed the idea of a left-right combination at the top of the batting order in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2024. He picked Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening partner of Rohit Sharma.
West Indies legend Ian Bishop suggested that India can stick to Jaiswal if they feel he is in good rhythm and form. He said:
“I like Virat Kohli at the top, I have said that over the last couple of years, not just for this tournament. That’s my preference. But, India may be thinking something else, Rahul Dravid maybe other options. If you take Jaiswal, there has been a little bit of concern with his form in the IPL. But if you think his form is good enough to be in the team, then I want Jaiswal at the top, partly because he is left-handed. So you get that left-right combination. So that would be my choice as the opening pair,”
Kohli Was Also Absent From The Warm-Up Match; Jaiswal Didn’t Bat
Any warm-up or practice match ahead of a big clash or tournament gives a fair bit of idea about the final combination of the team. Kohli was absent from India’s warm-up match that was played against Bangladesh. Something, which India captain Rohit Sharma said was due to fatigue. “Virat has just arrived yesterday, he’s going to miss out,” he had said.
Yashasvi Jaiswal played the warm-up match. Notably, seven Indian batters got a taste of the pitch conditions but Jaiswal didn’t. It was strange to see Jaiswal not getting a chance to bat in India’s warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1. Rohit also didn’t answer the question about the opening position directly but did talk about the line-up of the side going forward.
Cricfiles opinion:
Cricfiles feels that the Indian cricket team should go with the Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma opening combination. While King Kohli has been exceptional for in the past, his new attacking approach at the top for RCB in IPL 2024 is a temptation for the Indian fans. Kohli’s experience might come in handy in the middle phases. Jaiswal is relatively young and inexperienced.
ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2024: India Vs Ireland- Fantasy Preview
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