Salman Butt. Image-Twitter
Salman Butt. Image-Twitter

Salman Butt, the former Pakistan skipper, reckons Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will open the batting for India despite Ishan Kishan’s brilliant knock as an opener against England in a T20 World Cup 2021 warm-up game in Dubai on Monday. Ishan Kishan opened the batting with KL Rahul in India’s first warm-up clash ahead of the T20 World Cup.

While Ishan Kishan smashed 70 off 46 balls, KL Rahul made a blazing 51 off 24. The duo featured in an opening stand of 82 in 8.2 overs as India chased down a target of 189 with ease, winning the clash by seven wickets.

KL Rahul And Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: Twitter)
KL Rahul And Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: Twitter)

Salman Butt: Rohit Sharma And KL Rahul Will Open

On Monday, despite Ishan Kishan’s brilliant innings against England, Salman Butt opined that India will stick to the Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul opening pair.

Discussing India’s batting order for the T20 World Cup 2021, the former cricketer stated: “Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will open, I don’t think that will change. Ishan Kishan can bat one down or in the middle-order or after Virat Kohli. He is in amazing form and can bat anywhere in the batting order.”

Ishan Kishan (Image Credit: BCCI)
Ishan Kishan (Image Credit: BCCI)

Speaking about youngster Ishan Kishan, Salman Butt added that he looked equally good against pace and spin. His 70 off 46 balls was studded with 7 fours and 3 sixes, and his strike rate was 152.17.

The 37-year-old elaborated: “I haven’t seen him in any kind of trouble either against the new ball or against the spinners. These are very good signs because he played Moeen Ali very well. Adil Rashid is a very good leg-spinner and he attacked him in rather impressive fashion. As an opener, he was confident against the fast bowlers as well.”

Ishan Kishan retired on 70, after which Rishabh Pant (29 not out) and Hardik Pandya (12 not out) took India past the finish line in 19 overs.

Salman Butt: It Looked Like KL Rahul Was Batting Against A Bowling Machine

While Ishan Kishan top-scored for India in the warm-up encounter against England on Monday, KL Rahul was equally impressive, smashing six fours and three sixes. His strike rate was a monumental 212.5-the best of the Indian innings as it came off only 24 balls.

Analyzing KL Rahul’s batting, Salman Butt said: “The highlight of India’s batting, according to me, was KL Rahul’s knock. If anyone wants to watch beautiful batting, they must watch KL Rahul bat. The way he took on England’s bowlers, it seemed like he was batting against a bowling machine. “

Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt
Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt (File Photo | AFP)

“He was able to hit the ball anywhere at his will. The standout aspect of his innings was that most of the shots he played were correct strokes. The kind of shots he played demonstrated the dangerous form that he is currently in.”

KL Rahul has an amazing T20 record. He has smashed 1557 runs in 49 T20Is at a strike rate of 142.19. In IPL 2021, he amassed 626 runs in 13 games and was the third-leading run-getter in the edition.
Earlier, England managed to score 188/5 after Jonny Bairstow’s 49 off 36 balls and Moeen Ali’s cameo of unbeaten 43 off 20 balls as Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar(4 overs, 54 runs, 0 wickets) was taken to the cleaners. Mohammed Shami conceded 40 runs, too, despite picking 3 scalps. For England, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Moeen Ali, and Adil Rashid were too expensive as all of them conceded 10 runs per over or more.