Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the lack of runs from regular opener KL Rahul has ended up benefiting India by providing them with an ideal opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Virat-Rohit Openers in the innings for India in a T20I for the first time on Saturday and their 94-run stand helped India beat England by 36 runs and win the series.
Sunil Gavaskar: KL Rahul Out Of Form Blessing In Disguise
Gavaskar claims that the best batsman on the team should bat the most number of overs in limited-overs cricket.
“Your best batsman should bat the most number of overs in limited-overs cricket. So it was very important for Virat Kohli to bat at the top of the order. So maybe, KL Rahul’s loss of form has been a blessing in disguise because this has given us an opening combination to look forward to,” Gavaskar told India Today.
The veteran cricketer further compared the situation with the past and said it was the same with legendary Sachin Tendulkar who was sent to open the innings after starting the career as a middle-order batsman.
“Like when Sachin Tendulkar was batting down the order in ODIs and then he was sent up to open the batting and what a transformation it had not just on his batting but the whole team. So clearly, your best batsman has to bat as many overs as they can,” he further said.
On Saturday, Kohli, who opened for the first time in T20Is since 2018, batted out the entire 20 overs to finish on 80* from 52 deliveries by accelerating towards the death while Sharma smashed a quickfire 64 off 34.
Gavaskar wants India to persist with the Virat-Rohit openers as it will become easier for the other players in the middle order.
“I would persist with this opening formula. Look at the way they fed off each other. You could see the interaction between the two of them, whenever each of them got the big shot going,” said Gavaskar.
“When that happens, when two leaders of the team show the way, it becomes easier for the guys coming down the order. With Suryakumar Yadav, in India colours and playing those cameos, it’s really good,” Gavaskar added.
Post-match, Virat Kohli confirmed that he’ll be opening in IPL 2021 for RCB as well. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be given no rest and to be seen in the upcoming 3 match ODI series starting 23rd March.
