India face a slight dilemma regarding the opening combination ahead of their T20 World Cup opener.
While the showpiece tournament got underway on June 1, the Men in Blue will begin their campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5.
Ahead of the game, all eyes are on Virat Kohli, who is expected to be India's main batter in the marquee event once again. The star batter finished as the Orange Cap winner in recently held IPL season, amassing 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 with one hundred and five half-centuries.
Kohli emerged as the highest run-getter while opening the innings for RCB, and it remains to be seen where he bats for India during the T20 World Cup.
While Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma would provide a left-right opening combo, there is a school of thought that India should make the most Kohli’s red-hot form at the top of the order.
Amid the debate, former West Indies cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop has opined that he likes Virat Kohli at the top but also highlighted Jaiswal's importance in the Indian XI as an opener.
"I like Virat Kohli at the top, I have said that over the last couple of years, not just for this tournament. That's my preference. But, India may be thinking something else, Rahul Dravid maybe other options. If you take Jaiswal, there has been a little bit of concern with his form in the IPL. But if you think his form is good enough to be in the team, then I want Jaiswal at the top, partly because he is left-handed. So you get that left-right combination. So that would be my choice as the opening pair," Bishop told Star Sports.
"There is no doubt that Suryakumar Yadav is one of the best T20 batters. Rishabh Pant, great to see him back. And he provide another left-handed option for you. That's why I think Jaiswal, if he is in that XI, he is so important. He brings quality when he is in form and the left-handedness as well. So you are asking different questions of the bowling opposition. And then you get down the order, you have Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja," he added.
Playing for Rajasthan Royals, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 435 runs in 15 innings at an average of 31.07 and a strike rate of 155.91, including one hundred and half-century each.