T20 World Cup: Have KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma open for India and Virat Kohli at No. 3, suggests Graeme Swann
Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann suggested Team India to go back to their regular opening pair of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 game against Afghanistan on Wednesday.
India changed their batting order in their last match against New Zealand with Ishan Kishan opening with Rahul while Rohit and Virat Kohli dropped to No. 3 and 4, respectively. But the move didn't work as India's top-four failed miserably with the bat and as a result, lost the match by 8 wickets in Dubai.
Swann therefore, suggested India to revert to their previous batting order and not look to change too many things when they face Afghanistan in the must-win Super 12 clash in Abu Dhabi.
"The way I see it India have got KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma potentially the best opening pair at the T20 World Cup. Yes, things need to go their way and they need a partnership. But they are absolute world-class, incredible T20 batsmen.
"But both of them are effective only of they get all 20 overs to bat. Therefore, they should open the batting and India should build the team around that. Have those 2 open the innings and Virat Kohli at 3 grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck," Swann told Cricket.com.
Swann also added that both Rahul should just look to bat as freely as he did while leading Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (2021) last month while Rohit should just "smash it everywhere".
"I wouldn't look to shake the whole thing up or change the whole team. I would just say to the players, 'Rohit, KL you are opening the batting.
"Just do what you did in the IPL, mate. You've played on these wickets, against these players. KL, go get one of those hundreds you're famous for. Rohit, smash it everywhere. Don't be timid'," Swann said.
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