Indian head coach Rahul Dravid might have started his stint with a T20I series win over New Zealand at home, but Dinesh Karthik has a very important question for the team management about a backup opener, keeping in mind the next ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have been excellent for Team India for a long, and there is no need to disturb them, but if one of them gets injured, then the side should have a backup opener and Karthik asked Dravid and the team management to look into the option from now.
On Friday, November 19, Rohit and Rahul yet again showed their potential as openers, as the duo played a knock of 55 runs off 36 and 65 off 49 deliveries, respectively, as well as added 117 runs for the first wicket to take India to a 7-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20I in Ranchi.
Following the match, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter stated that the Indian team management should look for a backup opener and give him plenty of game time to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia in October-November next year.
Karthik told Cricbuzz: “In my mind, there is no doubt. What they need to find out is if one of them has an injury during the World Cup, then who is going to be the third opener? That's it; I don't think we need more than three openers in a squad. All they need to do is look at who is going to be the third opener.”
Suggesting a few options for Dravid, the commentator said: “Are you going to go to a left-hander which could be Ishan Kishan or Shikhar Dhawan, or go to another right-hander, whoever is batting best. It could be Ruturaj Gaikwad, you have Venkatesh Iyer. There are many options when it comes to openers, there's you know openers galore in Indian cricket and Indian Premier League actually.”
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The 36-year-old further explained, “There are a lot of options, so which way are you going to go? These two are sorted. There is no question. They have been batting brilliantly for a period of time and both of them are top of the runs in the ICC T20 ratings as well. So I don't see any reason why they should be disturbed. In fact, I feel one of them should be given a break for the next game.”
He signed off by saying, “Look at your third opener, who is it going to be, you know. Go march in that direction. Find out who your third opener is. Make sure he is comfortable up until the World Cup where at any given opportunity where one of them is not playing, give him the opportunity to play and stick with him. Give him a good run and make sure he does the best for Team India.”
