Indian team is getting ready for the home ODI series against Australia. Ahead of this series, Indian team management has a big headache to select the opening partners. Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has recently faced this question, and he answered it.
Due to the struggling form since his return after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Shikhar Dhawan was in under pressure. After his new injury in late 2019, KL Rahul got the opportunity as the opening batsman in T20I. While Rahul impressed as an ODI opener during the ICC CWC 2019 after Dhawan’s injury, the Karnataka star again impressed as a T20I opener.
Under-pressure Shikhar Dhawan returned to the T20I squad during the recently concluded home series against Sri Lanka and performed impressively, especially in the last game at Pune where he hit a half-century.
As the in-form limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma is joining the national squad for the home ODI series against Australia, it is going to be tough for the team management to select the opening partner.
It’s a good dilemma to have – Vikram Rathour
Batting coach Vikram Rathour has clarified that Rohit Sharma will be the obvious choice for the opening batting position. They only need to choose between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul for the other spot in the opening batting position.
Ahead of the ODI series against Australia, Rathour said, “It’s a good dilemma to have. Rohit is an obvious choice of course. Both of them (Shikhar and Rahul) are playing well. Shikhar has done well in one- dayers and Rahul is in great form. So we’ll deal with it when we have to.
“There are still a couple of days to go. The management will sit down and make the choice.”
The three-match ODI series between India and Australia will run from 14th to 19th January 2020. While the Indian players are focusing on preparing for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020, Vikram Rathour feels that the forthcoming tough ODI series can give huge confidence to the players.
The batting coach spoke about the upcoming ODI series against Australia, “It’s a different format and cricket is a game of confidence. So as a batter and bowler, especially when you are playing against a team like Australia, who are one of the better teams in the world, performances do make a difference. It gives you a lot of confidence.
“We’ll take it as any other series and playing against one of the better sides in the world, we are looking to do well as a team, looking to perform and win if possible.”
After this upcoming ODI series against Australia, India will tour to New Zealand for the five-match T20I, three-match ODI and two-match Test series.