With reports emerging that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will open in the first T20I match against Afghanistan, India head coach Rahul Dravid has cleared all speculations. Dravid stated that Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open in the first T20I match, while Virat will not be available for the match due to personal reasons.
While speaking at the pre-match press conference for the IND vs AFG 1st T20I match, Rahul Dravid stated that the team management is happy with the way Yashasvi Jaiswal has performed so far. Dravid added that Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal will open for the team as the youngster gives the team a left-arm option in the top order.
We will definitely open with Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal – Rahul Dravid
“As of now, we will certainly open with Rohit and Jaiswal,” Dravid said on the eve of the first T20I against Afghanistan, when asked if Virat Kohli could open with Rohit. “But when you have a team, you have to have that flexibility to do whatever it takes if that’s what’s best for the team and gives us the best chance to be successful.
“So nothing is closed. But we are certainly very happy with what Jaiswal has done as an opener for us, and he also gives us a left-right combination at the top.”
Earlier, according to ‘The Telegraph’, it was reported that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could open for India in the T20I format. However, all the reports have turned out to be false as it will be the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma who will start the innings for India in Mohali.
Rohit Sharma is India’s second highest run-scorer in T20I cricket and has scored 3853 runs in 148 matches at an average of 31.32. Sharma has scored four hundreds in T20I cricket.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, has been hitting the ball at 159.25 and has played 15 T20I matches for India. Jaiswal has scored 430 runs with one hundred and three half-centuries.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to India’s T20I setup after almost 14 months following India’s disappointing loss to England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022. Virat had been in sublime form in the tournament and played 82 * runs during a group match against Pakistan. India were not in a position to win the match, however, Virat Kohli ensured that India crossed the line in the end.
This will also be the first time that Rohit Sharma will lead India in the T20I format after the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022. Sharma has done very well as captain in Tests and ODIs. He will now want to repeat his success in the shortest international format and win his first ICC trophy as captain of India.
However, the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has added to the headache of the selectors. The Indian management will have to build the team combination from scratch. Had Rohit not played in the 2024 T20 World Cup, there were speculations that Hardik Pandya would lead the Indian team.
The Indian selectors had been giving opportunities to many young players and were building the core of the team for the upcoming big tournament. However, with Rohit Sharma leading India in the T20 World Cup, India are a heavy favorite to lift the trophy.
