Captain Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav opened the innings for Team India in the opening match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies on Friday (July 29), and Parthiv Patel said that the reason behind the surprising move was a struggling Virat Kohli.
India stunned one and all by sending Suryakumar to open the innings with Rohit in the first T20I, as Rishabh Pant opened for India on the England tour in the T20I series. Well, the move got mixed results as the right-hander was dismissed for 24 runs off 16 balls against the West Indies. However, India won the match by 68 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against the West Indies on Friday.
Reacting to the move, former wicketkeeper-batter said that the Indian team management is possibly trying to fit Kohli into India’s playing XI. That’s why they are trying different opening options.
Notably, Kohli’s struggle with the bat is well known to all, and he has been rested for the West Indies after his poor performance with the bat in England. He is likely to return for the Zimbabwe tour.
Parthiv Patel said on Cricbuzz: “All these changes we are seeing in the opening order, that's happening because they want to try and fit in Virat Kohli in that XI. That's the reason we are seeing Surya and Rishabh Pant opening. That's something I feel.”
He also suggested Kohli should have played the West Indies ODIs to find his old touch with the bat. Patel said, “I definitely would have (liked to see him in T20Is). I would have liked to see him play the one-day series.”
Patel signed off by saying, “It is an easier option of coming back to form. There are fifty overs, there's a lot of time. Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill came back to run-scoring with almost a-run-a-ball. He is a legend of the game.”
