Simon Doull recently discussed India’s probable batting lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The cricketer-turned-commentator has Virat Kohli as one of his first choices. Doull suggests Kohli, with his impressive track record, should open India’s batting instead of playing at number three.
Kohli has a history of opening for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL across several seasons. His performances include scoring 3,930 runs as an opener with a strike rate of 135.93, alongside 8 centuries.
Doull, however, believes Kohli playing at number 3 would make it difficult for Rinku Singh to get a chance to be included in the playing 11.
“In my India starting XI, Rinku has to play. Therefore, Virat’s got to open the batting. Now who he opens with, up to you if it is Rohit Sharma or Jaiswal. But, Kohli has to open because, in the modern game, that is his best position. He hits the quick bowlers as good as anyone and he times the ball beautifully. Coming in and starting against spin is not his best option,” he said.
Doull believes players like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant won’t make it to India’s squad for the T20 World Cup. Instead, he supports Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper and praises Shivam Dube for the middle-order role. Joy Bhattacharjya, his fellow cricket expert on Cricbuzz, reminded him that both KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan would be good choices as a wicket-keeper/batter combination.
