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Team India have successfully secured a spot in the Super 8 stage at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. This achievement came after their victory over co-hosts USA in Match 25 of the 20-team tournament. The Men in Blue have been impressive, winning all three of their matches so far against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA.
India’s underperforming openers
Despite their overall success, India have faced significant challenges with their batting, particularly the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. This underperformance has led the team to rely heavily on their strong pace attack. During their 111-run chase against the USA, Rohit was dismissed for three runs off six balls, while Kohli, struggling to find form, was out for a golden duck. The team had to depend on Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to secure the win.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s performance So far
Rohit started the tournament on a positive note with a half-century against Ireland but has not managed to build on that initial success. Kohli, on the other hand, has been in a rough patch, with scores of 1, 4, and 0 in the tournament so far. The opening pair’s lack of form has raised concerns among fans and experts alike, with many calling for changes in the lineup.
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Brian Lara gives his opinion
Meanwhile, West Indies legend Brian Lara has weighed in on the ongoing debate about India’s opening pair. Lara suggested that India should continue with Rohit and Kohli as the opening batters, emphasizing that changing the lineup could disrupt the team’s balance.
“Definitely, India had the option to play a left-right opening partnership. They went with two great players, two guys who’ve done a great job for India with the bat for their individual franchise as well in terms of the captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. I think they’ve got to stick with it as you just said if you do make changes on top, Virat Kohli has to come in the order a little bit lower and that’s going to upset things there,” Lara commented on Star Sports.
Lara’s Belief in Continuity
Lara further elaborated on his stance, expressing his belief that India should back their current opening combination. He acknowledged the challenging batting conditions in the USA but stressed the importance of consistency, especially when the team is winning.
“I believe that the combination India is having and India has to back the two of them. At some point in time, they’re going to come good with conditions, the batting conditions in the USA were not the very best. I don’t believe you start making changes especially if you’re winning,” he added.
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