India’s T20 WC Strategy: Simon Doull Recommends Virat Kohli’s Opening, Rinku Singh’s Inclusion

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April 13, 2024 0 1095

Simon Doull suggested that India’s selectors should adjust their batting order for the T20 World Cup, advocating for Virat Kohli to open the innings to accommodate Rinku Singh in the playing XI.

The Indian selectors face the daunting task of selecting their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 due to the abundance of talent available. Alongside established names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, there’s a pool of promising youngsters, including Rinku Singh, who have proven their mettle on the international stage.

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull suggested that India should ensure Rinku’s inclusion in the playing XI by promoting Kohli to open the innings, rather than his usual position at number three.

“I think Virat should open…100 percent. I don’t think he should bat at number three, because if he does, then Rinku Singh will miss out. And in my India starting XI, Rinku has to play. Therefore, Virat’s got to open the batting,” Doull said on Cricbuzz.

“Now who he (Kohli) opens with, up to you. If it is Rohit Sharma or Jaiswal. But Kohli has to open, because in the modern game that is his best position. He hits the quick bowlers as good as anyone and he times the ball beautifully. Coming in and starting against spin is not his best option,” he added.

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Kohli has opened nine times in international cricket, amassing 400 runs at a strike rate of 161.29, highlighted by his memorable 122* in Asia Cup 2022. In the IPL, he’s scored 3930 runs as an opener at a strike rate of 135.93, with all eight centuries achieved in that position.

Notably, Doull’s preferred India XI missed Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. He endorsed Sanju Samson for the wicketkeeping role and advocated for Shivam Dube’s inclusion in the middle-order.

“It sounds stupid to me but if Jaiswal is out. But if that’s the case, you could have Sanju at 3, Suryakumar at 4, Dube and Rinku at 5 and 6, Jadeja at 7,” he concluded.