Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has shot down the idea to open with Virat Kohli alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. The global T20 event is scheduled to take place in Australia, starting next month.
Kohli roared back to form with a scintillating unbeaten hundred while opening the innings against Afghanistan in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022. That gave rise to a debate on whether Virat Kohli should open for India in T20Is with the T20 World Cup in line.
Rubbishing the idea Gautam Gambhir said people are forgetting how KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma for that matter have contributed in the past since Kohli’s return to form. And that he thinks might end up hurting Rahul’s confidence.
“You know what happens in India? The moment someone starts doing very well -for example, when Virat Kohli scored a hundred in the last game, we all start forgetting what Rahul and Rohit have done over a long period of time,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“When you talk about Kohli opening the batting, imagine what happens to KL Rahul? Imagine the amount of insecurity he must be feeling. Imagine if he gets a low score in the first game, there will be another debate on whether Kohli should open in the next game,” he added.
“We shouldn’t entertain that question” – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir says there’s no need to entertain the question of Virat Kohli replacing KL Rahul or Rohit Sharma as opener and wants the focus on the team rather than individuals.
“….we shouldn’t entertain that question. Think from India’s point of view. Think from KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma’s point of view. Well, Rohit is the captain right now. Imagine if he was not the captain, what would he have felt? Everything falls down on KL Rahul. We should start thinking about how India can flourish, rather than certain individuals,” he said.
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