Former India player Gautam Gambhir has opined on how the calls for Virat Kohli to open the innings for India in the leadup to the T20 World Cup 2022 and in the ICC tournament must be making KL rehaul feel insecure.
Kohli, who had struggled for an international century since November 2019, finally reached the three-figure mark when he slammed 122* in 61 balls with 12 fours and 6 sixes against Afghanistan in what was his maiden T20I century in the recent Asia Cup 2022 tournament.
Since then, a debate has begun if Kohli, who opened in that innings, should continue to do so in place of KL Rahul in the leadup for the T20 World Cup and in the ICC mega event as well. Rahul, who made his comeback to the Men in Blue side after a long time, suffered from indifferent form.
However, Gambhir has rejected the suggestion of Kohli opening in place of Rahul saying that people are forgetting how Rahul and Rohit for that matter have contributed in the past since Kohli’s return to form. And that he thinks might end up hurting Rahul’s confidence.
“You know what happens in India? The moment someone starts doing very well -for example, when Virat Kohli scored a hundred in the last game, we all start forgetting what Rahul and Rohit have done over a long period of time.
When you talk about Kohli opening the batting, imagine what happens to KL Rahul. Imagine the amount of insecurity he must be feeling. Imagine if he gets a low score in the first game, there will be another debate on whether Kohli should open in the next game,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
The former India opener said that all the talks about his place at the top may affect Rahul mentally and that he has more ability than Rohit and Kohli.
“You don’t want your top-class players in that position, especially KL Rahul who has probably got more ability than Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. Imagine KL Rahul going into the World Cup thinking, ‘what if I don’t score runs against Pakistan? What if I get replaced by Virat Kohli?’ You don’t want that," he said.
In the run-up to the T20 World Cup that starts next month, India will play three T20Is at home, three each against Australia and South Africa.
“Think from India’s point of view. Think from KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma’s point of view. Well, Rohit is the captain right now. Imagine if he was not the captain, what would he have felt? Everything falls down on KL Rahul. We should start thinking about how India can flourish, rather than certain individuals," he said.”
(Star Sports inputs)
