Virat Kohli News: Don’t be surprised if you see Virat Kohli opening with Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup in June in USA and West Indies. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has reportedly planned to make Kohli Rohit’s opening partner. According to a report in Dainik Jagran, in a meeting held in Mumbai last week where captain Rohit, head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were present, the possibility of including Kohli as an opener was seriously discussed.
There was a lot of speculation about Kohli’s place in the T20 World Cup squad which is set to be announced soon, but according to reports all doubts have been cleared. When Rohit, Dravid and selectors had a meeting after the ODI World Cup last year, Kohli’s place was not confirmed. But a lot has changed in the last few months.
Kohli made himself available for the home series against Afghanistan. He and Rohit returned to T20I after almost two years. Kohli batted at his preferred No.3 slot in two matches in which Yashasvi Jaiswal opened with Rohit. But this might change in the upcoming T20 World Cup edition.
According to a report in Jagran, Kohli wanted the selection committee to provide him with clarity about his batting position in the T20 World Cup, and he suggested it as an opening batsman.
Kohli has opened regularly for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the last few IPL seasons. He is currently the Orange Cap holder, having scored 361 runs in seven matches with a strike rate of 147. He has already scored a century.
Virat Kohli’s record as an opener
This is not the first time Kohli has done this in international cricket. In fact, he started his international career as an opener in ODIs in 2008 against Sri Lanka. Slowly he made the No.3 slot his own. He has a pretty good record in T20Is as an opener. In 9 matches, the former India captain has scored 400 runs, which is more than his career T20I average, which is 51.
Moreover, whenever Kohli has opened the batting in this format, his strike rate has increased from 138 to 161. His only T20I century, which is also the highest individual score by an Indian in the shortest format, came while opening against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022.
The one time Kohli opened with Rohit, India put up a score of 224 against England with the opening partnership scoring 94 runs in 9 overs. Kohli top-scored for India with 80 runs off 52 balls while Rohit scored a quick 64 off 34 balls.
If Kohli opens with Rohit in the T20 World Cup, it could open up space in India’s middle-order for power hitters like Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube or Riyan Parag who can attack the opposition after the powerplay. Suryakumar Yadav could then come in at No.3 and make a bigger impact on the game by getting more deliveries.
Yashasvi Jaiswal could be out of the T20 World Cup
However, this also means that Yashasvi Jaiswal might have to sit out. The selectors are actually looking to move Shubman Gill in as a backup opener, primarily due to his IPL returns.
Before the 17th edition began, Jaiswal was the frontrunner to grab the opener’s spot, but after the first few matches of the IPL, things have tilted slightly towards the GT captain. Jaiswal has been a bit difficult to get the ball rolling but Gill has been consistent.
