Graeme Swann, the former England spinner, praised the regular opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as they did well in their must-win game against Afghanistan. Graeme Swann termed the pair as world-class and the best opening pair at the World Cup.
The Men in Blue slotted Ishan Kishan into the top-order alongside KL Rahul in their last game against New Zealand. However, the move didn’t reap dividends and was heavily criticized by fans and experts amidst cricket fraternity.
Graeme Swann: India Has Got Potentially Best Opening Pair Of KL Rahul And Rohit Sharma At T20I WC 2021
Graeme Swann, the 42-year-old spinner, stated that India has the best opening pair in the T20 World Cup and should back them against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia. Rohit Sharma, who has four T20I centuries, while opening for India, was made to bat at No. 3 against New Zealand with Ishan Kishan, playing his first World Cup match in any format opening the innings with KL Rahul.
“The way I see it, India have got KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma potentially the best opening pair at the T20 World Cup. Yes, things need to go their way and they need a partnership. But they are absolute world-class, incredible T20 batsmen.”
Graeme Swann further added that captain Virat Kohli should bat in his regular position at No. 3.
“But both of them are effective only if they get all 20 overs to bat,” said Graeme Swann.
“Therefore, they should open the batting and India should build the team around that. Have those two open the innings and Virat Kohli at No. 3 grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck.”
Incidentally, India faced a batting collapse against the Kiwis and could only muster 110 runs. The make-shift opening pair managed to add only 11 runs, with Ishan Kishan scoring four off eight balls. New Zealand chased down the score in just 14.3 overs, handing India a massive defeat.
Graeme Swann: KL Rahul And Rohit Sharma Should Play As They Did In IPL 2021
The 42-year-old further added that the Indian openers should concentrate on doing what they did during the IPL 2021 last month. KL Rahul had scored about 600 runs in every IPL since 2018 averaging above 50 each time. Rohit Sharma who led Mumbai Indians in IPL the maximum 5 times since its inception in 2008 is the 3rd highest run-scorer in IPL history with 5611 runs.
“I wouldn’t look to shake the whole thing up or change the whole team,” Graeme Swann said.
“I would just say to the players, ‘Rohit, KL you are opening the batting. Just do what you did in the IPL, mate. You’ve played on these wickets, against these players. KL, go get one of those hundreds you’re famous for. Rohit, smash it everywhere. Don’t be timid.’ “
India returned to winning ways against Afghanistan and kept their hopes alive to make it to the ICC T20 World Cup semifinals. Rohit Sharma struck eight fours and three sixes during his innings and put on 140 runs with KL Rahul, laying the foundation for an imposing total.
Sent in to bat, openers Rohit Sharma (74) and KL Rahul (69) put on a record 140-run partnership to power India to a massive 210 for 2. After the openers were dismissed, Hardik Pandya (35*) and Rishabh Pant (27*) took India past the 200-run mark.
India 210 for 2 (Rohit 74, Rahul 69) beat Afghanistan 144 for 7 (Janat 42*, Nabi 35, Shami 3-32, Ashwin 2-14) by 66 runs