Both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul are good players for Team India on their own. As the last match of India and Sri Lanka is about to take place, there is one debate that has caught the imagination of fans and selectors alike. It is about who between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul will open for the team in the upcoming matches.

KL Rahul could replace Shikhar Dhawan as the opening partner of Rohit Sharma in the ongoing T20Is race.

In Indore, during the chase, Rahul got going soon, and in the powerplay, he struck all the six boundaries. On the other hand, Dhawan had to wait until the ninth over to get his first one. In his 32-ball 45, the right-handed opener of Karnataka played some impeccable cover drives.

The time is running out for Dhawan but in the absence of Sharma, he can prove himself in front of the team management on Friday in Pune. It would be a do or die chance at the MCA Stadium where the third and final T20I of the series will take place for Dhawan, for whom age is also not on his side.

Dhawan And Rahul Keen To Keep Their Respective Positions

With the squad for the New Zealand series to be announced by the end of the January second week, staking a claim for the top spot are Rahul and Dhawan. Alternatively, in the five T20Is against New Zealand, one of them may be moved down the order. 

Like Dhawan, who is always open to playing at various spots, Rahul has also batted in the absence of Kohli at No 3 and at times at No 4. In the ICC World Cup 2019, Rahul played at No 4. He, however, was pushed up once Dhawan had injured his thumb after two matches.

Rahul performed well in the absence of Dhawan in both T20s and ODIs.

“For himself, Rahul has done very well and for the team, it is fine that into his own he is coming. How good player he is it’s not unknown to anybody As he has got runs consistently we are happy for that”. Kohli said before the rained-out T20I in Guwahati.

“It’s going to be a difficult thing to address when Rohit comes back because KL is playing so well while Shikhar is an experienced player. To go with we have to choose the best combination.” 

Rahul looks the better bet on his current form. In 11 T20 internationals, Rahul has six forty-plus scores including four fifties while in as many games Dhawan has just two forty-plus scores and no fifties. Last year, 

Dhawan suffered from a spate of injuries, which did not help his cause. 

KL Rahul has changed his game to suit the limited-overs format. In powerplays, his cover drives impressed experts in the Indore T20. 

Meanwhile, Dhawan’s game has stagnated. It is more than likely that Rahul will open with Rohit unless Dhawan does not grab his chances with both hands.