India vs Australia 2023

‘Only if there is emergency’ – Ravi Shastri refutes the idea of Virat Kohli opening the innings for India in T20Is

Since Virat Kohli’s maiden T20I hundred during the Asia Cup 2022, a debate on him opening the batting in T20Is has been going on. Recently, former cricketers such as Gautam Gambhir and Matthew Hayden rejected the idea. Now, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has also refuted the idea of Kohli opening the innings. He said that India skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul would be the best opening pair.

The 1983 World Cup winner feels that Virat can open the innings only in an emergency situation. Shastri also said that in the Australian conditions, Kohli’s experience during the middle overs would come in handy. The team has been gearing up for the 20-20 World Cup that will be played in Australia next month.

“I wouldn’t want that. I would want Rahul and Rohit. Only if there is emergency or there is injury then it is fine otherwise I feel that you need that depth in the lower middle order and the experience especially in the Australian conditions where as a fast bowler you cab get wickets in the middle over. There is enough bounce there and you can be aggressive and you can try and hustle out batters in those middle overs. So you know the experience of Kohli out there will be very important,” Shastri said on Star Sports during the second T20I between India and Australia.

No need to confuse KL Rahul: Ravi Shastri

The former India cricketer added that vice-captain KL Rahul is doing well for India at the opening slot. Ravi feels that there is no need to confuse Rahul while he is doing well.

“And Rahul is batting beautifully at the top. Why cloud his imagination? Why confuse him? Why sow a seed in his mind that he might not be opening? You don’t want that. You don’t want that guy to have clarity of thought absolutely clear in his mindset that he is going to open and he is going to score and score big.”