Team India and RCB skipper Virat Kohli had opened the innings against England during the 5th T20I and raced away to a fifty. Kohli added after the game that he will be looking to open in the upcoming IPL as well.
In the recently concluded five-match T20I series against England, India tried as many four openers and four opening pairs. Indian skipper Virat Kohli had singled out KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma as India’s first-choice openers in T20I cricket. However, Rohit was then rested for the first couple of games, and Rahul’s wretched form saw him getting dropped for the fifth T20I.
With Suryakumar Yadav batting beautifully and fearlessly at No. 3, skipper Kohli moved up to open the fifth and final T20I. The move paid off as Rohit and Kohli put on 94 runs in just nine overs for the first wicket. The Indian vice-captain scored 64 and was the first to be dismissed, while Kohli went on to remain unbeaten on 80, with the duo laying the platform for India’s mammoth score of 224 for 2.
It wasn’t the first time Kohli has opened in the shortest format. He has done it on numerous occasions in the Indian Premier League. All his five IPL hundreds have come while opening the batting. However, for India, it was just the eighth time that Kohli opened the batting in T20Is. After the game, Kohli did admit that he wants to continue to bat at the top.
Yes, I’m going to open in the IPL as well (will you continue to open for India?) We do have a solid middle order now – it’s about the two best players getting maximum no of balls in T20 cricket. I’d like to partner Rohit at the top and the other guys feel confident when one of us are in. I’d like that to continue,
Kohli was quoted saying in the post-match presentation after the fifth T20I against England in Ahmedabad.
In the 2020 season of the IPL, Kohli opened the batting only once for RCB – in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. But he has admitted that he will bat at the top this year and that will open up a lot of options for the franchise.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan echoed Kohli’s opinions and felt that RCB could become a lot stronger by having their skipper bat at the top of the order. This year, RCB seem to have a strong batting line-up. Devdutt Padikkal who had a splendid debut season last year is in fine form in the lead up to the IPL. The middle-order wears a better look with Glenn Maxwell’s inclusion while they already have AB de Villiers in their ranks. There is Dan Christian in the squad as well and he can come in at No. 6, donning the finisher’s role. Moreover, the likes of Sachin Baby and Mohammed Azharuddeen have been in good form in domestic cricket.
He (Kohli) could bat anywhere but I think they (India and RCB) have found something. I think RCB will be a lot stronger by having him at the top of the order. He will be so consistent on those wickets. If you ask any batsman that’s worth any kind of salt ‘Where would you like to bat in India?’, and you’ll get ‘I’ll open the batting please’. I think he will have some fun over the next few months opening the batting. We are going to see some fine innings,
Vaughan was quoted saying on Cricbuzz Live.
