Veteran India batter Suresh Raina feels that India need the experience of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup which will be played in the West Indies and United States this year in June. The batting superstars made their return to the T20I set-up with the Afghanistan series. Rohit Sharma returned as the T20I captain, while Kohli is going to be crucial in the batting line-up for the mega ICC event.
Raina, who is one of the finest India batters of the shortest format, suggested that Kohli and Rohit’s presence will give the squad a lot of solidity.
“If you look at the World Cup venues (in the USA and the West Indies), the wicket will be a bit tricky. India will need the experience of Rohit and Kohli there. Kohli is about to make 12000 runs in T20 cricket.
So, their presence will boost India’s batting. Their presence will certainly better India’s chances to win the T20 WC,” said Raina, now an expert with JioCinema and Sports18, in a select interaction.
“Their form in the ODI World Cup was very good, and Rohit brings in a lot of intent to the dressing room as the leader as well.”
Raina opined that Kohli should bat at No. 3, leaving the opening slots to Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“I think Kohli should bat at No. 3. His experience will bring in some solidity, especially in the challenging pitches in the US and the Caribbean. There are fearless, young cricketers like Jaiswal, Rinku Singh or Shubman Gill but Rohit and Kohli will give the unit a lot of solidity.
Their presence is very important when we chase a target especially in a high-pressure event like the World Cup,” said Raina.
The former middle-order batter, who was part of India’s World Cup wins in 2007 and 2011, was delighted to see the progress of Rinku Singh.
“Rinku has done well in the available opportunities for him and he showed a lot of presence of mind as a finisher as well. He is a fearless cricketer.
“It is important to have him around and if Rishabh Pant gets fit in time (for WC), then the team will have another match-winner,” said Raina.
Raina said India will not have it easy against Afghanistan in the three-match T20I series, and the batters will have to put the visiting bowlers under pressure.
“India batsmen will have to attack Afghan spinners. They have quality spinners like Noor Ahmad and Abid Nabi, so it won’t be easy for us. Afghanistan uses their spinners well in the Power Play.
We have Rohit, Kohli, and Gill, who plays spin very well. So, we have to attack them from the start and it will keep the Afghan bowlers under pressure,” he concluded.
Comments
0 comment