India and England will lock horns for the first T20I in Ahmedabad and Indian skipper Virat Kohli has revealed India’s opening combination for the first game. Team India won the Test series 3-1 and is now looking forward to the T20I series. Both these teams are taking the series as a dress rehearsal for the World T20 to be played later this year in India. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli addressed the press conference and spoke about India’s preparations for the first game and the series.
Virat Kohli said that KL Rahul will open the innings with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan is their third opener for the series. The Indian skipper has backed the Rohit-Rahul duo to come good and also said that Shkihar will also get his chance in due course in the series.
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KL Rahul With Open With Rohit Sharma: Virat Kohli
“KL and Rohit have played well together. Shikhi comes as a third opener. The starting composition will be Rohit and Rahul” said Virat Kohli.
The BCCI has named a pretty young squad and ones who have performed in the IPL consistently well in the last couple of years. Suryakumar Yadav has finally earned his maiden India call-up after consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. The BCCI has also included players like Ishan Kishan, Rahul Tewatia who also performed well for their respective franchises. Picking the best XI for the five games thus would be a difficult job for the team management.
Let Rishabh Pant Be Himself – Rohit Sharma
Rishabh Pant is another player who is making a comeback into India’s limited-overs side. He is a regular in the India Test set-up by has been playing under the shadow of MS Dhoni in the ODI and T20I team. Now with Dhoni retired, Pant has ample amount of time to get it right in the white-ball formats as well.
Indian vice-captain even requested the media to leave Rishabh Pant alone and let him play his natural game in the series.
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“Let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant and he will come out and give you those performances. I’ve said it in the past many times that leave Rishabh Pant alone and he’ll give you those performances,” Rohit said when a question was asked on the wicketkeeper-batsman.
“We leave him alone and we allow him to play with freedom, and as the team management, we are prepared to do that. And I am going to ask you the same question, are you prepared to do the same?” Rohit further said taking a jibe at the media.
