Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel said that Virat Kohli gives “right balance” at the top and should open alongside Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022.
Virat Kohli opened India’s innings in the absence of Rohit Sharma in the Super Four match against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. Kohli went onto score his 71st international century and maiden T20I hundred during the match.
After rubber stamping his brilliance with the bat, debates have started whether he should open the innings with Rohit Sharma in the World Cup as designated opener KL Rahul has been struggling at the top.
“It’s very clear. If I was clear that Virat Kohli should be opening in Asia Cup, he should be opening in World Cup as well. It just gives the right balance,” Parthiv said.
The former cricketer said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two very different cricketers and have different approaches while batting. Parthiv added that Kohli is India’s best batter suited for the Australian conditions.
“They (Kohli and Rohit Sharma) are two different kind of players. One goes very aggressive (from the beginning), can hit boundaries, and there is Kohli who finds gaps and creates boundaries. If Rohit and Kohli can play till the first six overs I have no doubt that even in Australian conditions more often than not they will get India to around fifty,” Parthiv said.
“That is a good score without losing a wicket. Kohli is probably India’s best batter suited for those conditions. So why not. You have got your two best batters playing the first six overs. If you have wickets in hand, that has always been the recipe for success for any T20 team.”
