As the T20 World Cup approaches, there is much speculation about the Indian squad and how they will line up on the field. Cricket expert Irfan Pathan has weighed in on the debate, particularly focusing on the opening partnership and Virat Kohli’s batting position.
Pathan believes that India should have a right-hand and left-hand combination in their opening partnership, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma being the ideal choices. He highlights Jaiswal’s impressive international strike rate of 160, emphasizing the need for firepower at the top of the order. If Virat Kohli were to open the batting, it would allow for a certain combination of 11 players on the field, potentially opening up opportunities for players like Shivam Dubey and Rinku Singh.
However, if Kohli were to bat at number three, Pathan sees challenges in maintaining the bowling strength in the squad. He suggests that having Jaiswal in the team could provide an additional bowling option, allowing for a more balanced playing XI with five proper bowlers.
Pathan also points out a key issue in the current Indian batting lineup – the lack of bowlers within the top six. He stresses