On January 11, Team India easily defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in Mohali to start their Twenty20 International series. Three reasons: India to start Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the second T20I against Afghanistan
Without Virat Kohli, the hosts needed less than 18 overs to reach the objective after Afghanistan scored 158. For the second Twenty20 International, the champion hitter will be back in the lineup for his first Twenty20 match for India in fourteen months.
After the same period, Rohit Sharma played his debut Twenty20 international. But a terrible run-out off his second delivery prevented the Indian captain from establishing his account.
Before the series, the conundrum of the superstar duo’s selection in T20Is dominated the limelight, although the emphasis has switched to whether the two should start batting for India subsequently.
The choice may be based on Kohli’s desire to open the batting and how it affects the team’s balance. However, starting the second T20I and onwards with the captain and the champion batsman at bat may be just what the doctor ordered.
Three reasons: India to start Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the second T20I against Afghanistan
- As an opener in Twenty20 Internationals, Virat Kohli, the third-best batsman in the world in the shorter format, has averaged a very respectable 57.10 with a strike rate of 161.30. A major contributor to his effectiveness in the powerplay is his capacity to find openings and hit boundaries whenever he pleases. Kohli’s only T20I century came against Afghanistan, and his greatest innings of the competition came as an opener.
- The Afghanistan series is India’s last one before the T20 World Cup, according to the team management. For the first time since the Ireland series, Sanju Samson, a gifted hitter, has been called up to the Twenty20 international team. Jitesh, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and other recent arrivals are acquiring experience. Playing Rohit and Kohli as openers is essential since Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are injured.
- There is tension in Team India’s T20 World Cup selection, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might begin the batting. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are also probably going to be in the playing eleven. India cannot include the very effective Rinku Singh in the playing XI. Ishan Kishan’s record opening the batting in Twenty20 Internationals is restricted. There is no sixth bowling option, therefore Hardik is one of five bowlers. India’s success depends on the opening duo experience of Rohit and Kohli.
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