Former Black Caps pace sensation Simon Doull made the call for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to kick off Indias batting in the 2024 T20 World Cup opener against Ireland in New York on June 5. The pair have united at the top of the order only once in a T20I clash for Team India notably against England in 2021.
While Kohli has only opened nine times in 109 Twenty20 International innings, he had excellent success at the top for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the just ended IPL 2024. The 35-year-old was the best run scorer, with 741 runs at an average of nearly 62 and a strike rate of 154.69 in 15 games.
On the eve of the India-Ireland match, Doull informed Cricbuzz:
“My team would have Virat and Rohit opening the batting. They are the two best players to do that in this point of time and Rishabh Pant for a point of difference at 3 as a left-hand option. SKY at 4 and then you have Dube, Hardik and Jadeja at 5, 6 and 7. It just sits quite nicely for me and the Indian line-up. If they go down that road, I think it’s the best way.”
Simon Doull
However, Simon Doull admits to hearing reports about Yashasvi Jaiswal being first at the nets, implying that the left-hander may start the batting.
“I’ve heard rumours today that Jaiswal was the first into the nets,” Doull added. “They’ve given him plenty of opportunity. That would surprise me if they bring him in. Who do they leave out? Shivam Dube? That would surprise me a touch.”
Simon Doull
Jaiswal has started the batting for India in T20Is for several months, with great success. He has an average of 33.46 and a strike rate of 161.93 in 17 T20Is.
However, in IPL 2024, the kid was somewhat unreliable, averaging 31.07 and scoring only two 50+ runs in 15 innings.
“Just a way of getting him into that side” – Simon Doull on Rishabh Pant batting at No.3
During the T20 World Cup, Simon Doull urged wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to bat third in the batting order.
The 26-year-old batted at the position in India’s warm-up match against Bangladesh, reaching 53 off 32 before withdrawing. Here’s what Doull stated about integrating Pant into the XI:
“It was just a way of getting him into that side and splitting up that middle-order combination of left-left-left. I didn’t know about Hardik Pandya at the start, so for me, it was where do I fit Rishabh Pant? Take away, let’s say, him, Dube and Jadeja… all batting at 5, 6 and 7. And just giving the top order a little point of difference. I’m pleased they gave it a chance against Bangladesh. It worked well. Will they go with it again? I think they should.”
Simon Doull
Pant is coming off a great IPL 2024 performance, averaging over 40 with a strike rate of 155.40 in 13 games.
It might come down to a struggle between him and Sanju Samson for the wicket-keeping position in India’s starting XI.