Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan on Sunday (March 21) said that the captain Virat Kohli could only able to take the brave call to open the innings for Men in Blue in the five-match T20I series decider against England only because of Suryakumar Yadav.

On Saturday (March 20), Kohli surprised all after the toss with his brave decision to open alongside Rohit Sharma in the final T20I against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The call proved significant for Team India as the dashing right-hander (80 runs off 52 balls) and Rohit (64 off 34 balls) gave the hosts a sensational start, adding a 94-run partnership in just nine overs to set India up for a mammoth total of 224/2. In reply, England could only manage 188/8, losing the match by 36 runs as India clinched the five-match series 3-2 on Saturday in Ahmedabad.

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Reacting to Kohli’s opening decision in the fifth T20I against England, the former Indian cricketer said it was Suryakumar who showed India captain what he can do at No. 3 and assured him to go as an opener.

The Mumbai batsman had smashed 57 runs in 31 balls while batting at no. 3 position in the 4th T20I, while contributed 32 runs off 17 balls to India’s win in the final T20I against England.

Zaheer said on Cricbuzz: “The question one should ask is how it became possible that Virat Kohli could come and open the innings? It became possible because India got a batsman like Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar went there and showed what he can do at no. 3 position.”

He signed off by saying, “This thinking, I believed started from there, and then the result was that Virat Kohli said that 'I can't keep going down the batting order'. Shreyas Iyer has also been pushed down the batting order. So, he decided that opening the innings could be a better option, let's try it out.”