Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif opined about the opening combination for Team India against Zimbabwe in the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting on Thursday (August 18) in Harare.
India has four options in Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as openers on the Zimbabwe tour, and Kaif feels the touring side should stick with the combination that they used on the recent West Indies tour.
Dhawan and Gill did a great job at the top of the order and Kaif feels they should continue to open for the Indian team in the upcoming ODI series against Zimbabwe as Rahul is returning from injury after a long time, but it would be his own decision since he is the captain.
Highlighting Rahul's flexibility in the batting order, Kaif said that the right-hander needs match practice, so it is up to him whether he wants to bat at No.3, 4, or open, but according to him, he should bat at number three against Zimbabwe.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Mohammad Kaif said: “KL Rahul has played at No. 5 for India in ODIs before. But if he wants match practice, he can open, but he has played at No. 5 before. Gill is in good form, he made a good partnership with Shikhar Dhawan in the West Indies.”
He further explained, “Both Gill and Dhawan are in good form. So they can open and Rahul can come down at No. 3. Rahul needs match practice and he was injured, so it all depends on him and he is the captain. It's his wish where he wants to bat as he is a captain.”
Kaif concluded, “But according to me, Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan performed well against the West Indies and you would want to see them as openers. KL Rahul can bat at no. 3 also in Zimbabwe.”
India squad for 3 ODIs against Zimbabwe:
KL Rahul (C) Shikhar Dhawan (VC), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Akshar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar
