(AP Photo)
In the upcoming T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, Virat Kohli will not be batting at the third position. India has opted to experiment with a fresh combination for this tournament.
Virat Kohli’s introduction as an opener in the T20 World Cup didn’t unfold as expected. In India’s Group A encounter against Ireland at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York, Kohli was dismissed for 1 off 5 balls. Despite this, the Indian team management remains committed to the opening partnership of Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This strategy will persist for India’s forthcoming match against Pakistan. The upcoming Sunday clash between these rivals carries significant weight, potentially shaping the group’s outcome, especially since Pakistan faces the imperative of securing a victory following their surprising loss to the USA.
In the match against Ireland, India made the strategic choice to exclude designated opener Yashasvi Jaiswal from the lineup, opting instead to promote Kohli to the top of the order. This adjustment allowed for the inclusion of an additional power hitter, Shivam Dube, in the middle order. If the sentiments expressed by India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour following their convincing 8-wicket victory over Ireland are any indication, then it’s probable that the 2007 T20 World Cup champions will maintain the same lineup configuration for the upcoming match against Pakistan.
In the past few seasons, Kohli has taken on the role of designated opener for his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore. His performance in the recently concluded 17th edition of the tournament was exceptional. Kohli finished as the recipient of the Orange Cap, awarded to the highest run-scorer, after amassing an impressive 741 runs at a strike rate of 154, marking his best performance in the history of the IPL.
Furthermore, Kohli’s role as an opener addresses several challenges for the Indian team. It creates an opportunity in the middle order to include players like Dube, while also providing Rishabh Pant with a more favorable batting position. Pant’s impact in this format has been limited when batting at No. 5. The fact that captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid contemplated Pant as a candidate for the No. 3 spot was evident when the wicketkeeper-batsman was deployed in that position during the warm-up match against Bangladesh.
Rishabh Pant has been officially designated as India’s No. 3 batsman. In the two matches he has participated in during this World Cup, including the warm-up match, Pant has demonstrated his prowess, particularly on a slow-paced New York pitch. Pant’s unbeaten 36 off 26 balls in a recent match played a pivotal role in India’s comfortable victory. His memorable reverse scoop against Josh Little to clinch the game stands out as a highlight of his performance.
Rathour confirmed that Pant will maintain the No. 3 position for India throughout the tournament, citing his impressive form. “Yes, he has been in excellent batting form. In the two matches he has played, he has shown great promise,” Rathour remarked. “So, currently, he holds the No. 3 spot, and having a left-hander in that position is advantageous for us.”
In addition, Hardik Pandya’s performance in the Ireland game was another positive for India. The all-rounder, who faced challenges as captain of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, bounced back strongly with figures of 3/27 in his four overs.
“Hardik looked really good. Hardik has been – I mean, even in the practice game and even in the practice- bowling really well. He looks fit enough to go through four overs. He has been bowling with some pace and accuracy. So yeah, it’s great,” Rathour said.
