With the ODIs done and dusted, the focus shifts to the three-match T20I series. Ahead of the opening tie on December 4 (Friday) at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has revealed his choices for the opening slot.
India lost the ODI series by a 2-1 scoreline. After two massive losses in Sydney, Virat Kohli’s men came back to win a close thriller in the third ODI. There were a lot of positives from that game including Jasprit Bumrah hitting the form with his unplayable yorker.
Sunil Gavaskar picks India’s openers
Moving into the shortest format, Sunil Gavaskar opined that KL Rahul should open the inning with Shikhar Dhawan. Rahul and Dhawan were the top two highest run-scorers in the IPL 2020 and continued their form in the ODIs with one fifty each.
Sunil Gavaskar went with skipper Virat Kohli at the ever-reliant No.3 position against a strong bowling line up Australia pose. Adding further, Gavaskar stated that if the top-order continues till the 14-15th over, Hardik Pandya should come at No.4. The all-rounder has been India’s highest run-scorer in the ODIs with two 90+ scores.
Speaking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said, “For me, KL Rahul, who scored nearly 700 runs in IPL, and Shikhar Dhawan, who has of late looked most comfortable in T20 format should open the innings followed by Virat Kohli.”
“If they stay till 14th or 15th over, then Hardik Pandya comes in at number four or if two wickets go in Powerplay, then Shreyas Iyer,” he added.
India will be desperate to hit the strides right way with the ICC T20 World Cup lined up next year in India. They will look to pick the right combinations and build on this as they look to lift the trophy for the second time after the inaugural edition in 2007.
