Ever since the defeat in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, there have been talks of changes in the Indian T20 team. It has started in a way on the New Zealand tour. Because captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have been rested on this tour. In their place, young players will be seen showing their mettle. The first T20 will be played between the two countries on 18 November in Wellington. Before this match, the biggest question in front of captain Hardik Pandya is that how will India’s top order be in the absence of Rohit-Rahul-Virat Kohli? Which batsmen should be given a chance especially as an opener.
Captain Pandya’s problem is that after Shubman Gill’s return to the T20 team, there are many options regarding the opening. Now it has to be seen which two batsmen are given a chance as an opener in this match.
Broadly speaking, 6 players can open for Team India in the first T20. This includes Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda. Most of these players have opened in T20. Now the question is, to whom captain Pandya and coach VVS Laxman give a chance.
India’s biggest problem in the T20 World Cup was the opening pair. Rohit and Rahul could not get India off to a fast start in a single match. If we look at the opening options available in the team, there is no batsman except Suryakumar who can give the team a blazing start. Facing the new ball in New Zealand has always been a challenge and batsmen like Ishaan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are often dismissed for tampering with the line of off stump. In such a situation, Laxman and Pandya will have to do a lot of brainstorming to choose the right combination.
Ishan can be an option in the opening. However, his record against fast bowling is not that good. Where the ball seams and swings. Ishan struggles to score runs there. But, then they cannot be put at number three as Shreyas Iyer will be the best batsman for the team at this number. By the way, Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed his place at number-4. The kind of batting he did in the T20 World Cup by coming at number-4, he was worth seeing. He lashed out at the opposition bowlers from the very first ball. In such a situation, if India needs a blistering start, then the idea of starting the innings with Suryakumar Yadav is not bad. He has already opened in T20 in IPL for Mumbai Indians
Meanwhile , it has been talked about Rishabh Pant for a long time that it is better to open him in T20 than feeding him at number-5. Next T20 World Cup after 2 years. Rohit playing in it, it is less likely. In such a situation, the Indian team management should work from now on preparing a new opening pair. Because the biggest reason for India’s defeat in the last two T20 World Cups was the opening pair. In such a situation, Pant’s role should be clear and he should be given continuous opportunities in any role.
There are two more batsmen, who have been a constant in the T20 team. But, their role is also not clear. They are Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson. Hooda has batted at every position from number-1 to 7. However, he scored a blistering century in the top order on the tour of Ireland this year. In such a situation, his claim regarding the opening is also very strong. If the left-right combination is tried, then he can be given a chance along with Rishabh Pant. Sanju Samson has opened first. But, at present, he hardly gets a chance on this position. He can bat at number four in place of Suryakumar.