Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opening the batting in the fifth and final T20I vs England became breaking news. Kohli and Rohit opened for the very first time in the shortest format of the game for India. Kohli scored an unbeaten 80 while Rohit scored a crucial 64. Together they added a 94-run stand for the first wicket in the decider against England. Before Saturday, Kohli had batted as an opener in T20Is only in 7 matches, managing 198 runs.

Meanwhile, former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan said that the presence of Suryakumar Yadav in the middle-order allowed the likes of Kohli and Rohit to open together. Suryakumar, who batted at no.3 in 4th and 5th T20I, scored 57 and 32 runs in the two games respectively and displayed his class and skills. 

Suryakumar Made It Possible For Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma To Open Together: Zaheer Khan

“The question one should ask is how it became possible that Virat Kohli could come and open the innings? It became possible because India got a batsman like Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar went there and showed what he can do at no. 3 position,” Zaheer said on Cricbuzz.

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Meanwhile, Kohli also revealed in the post-match presentation after the fifth T20I that he will open the batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. He has been doing that role in the past two seasons, though not consistently. This season, however, he will be back top opening the batting for his franchise. 

“I am going to open in the IPL as well. Have batted in different positions in the past. But I feel we have a solid middle-order now. Will definitely like to partner Rohit at the top” said Kohli. 

Virat Kohli also was chosen as the Man of the Series for his performance in the series. He ended with 231 runs in the series and in the process, surpassed KL Rahul’s record of most runs in a single T20I series. Rahul scored 224 runs against New Zealand in the five-match T20I series last year. 

Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the IPL 2021 opener against Mumbai Indians. As far as their schedule is concerned they will be playing their matches in Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

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