Virat Kohli Seeks T20 World Cup Spot Clarity, Selectors Suggest Opening with Rohit Sharma: Report

The opening gambit was allegedly Virat Kohli’s request for clarification from the selection committee on his spot in the Indian T20 World Cup squad. If you see Virat Kohli stroll out to start the batting with Rohit Sharma during the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies in June, don’t be shocked. According to reports, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is eager for Kohli to open for Rohit in the global tournament. Rohit, the captain, head coach Rahul Dravid, and chief sector Ajit Agarkar met in Mumbai last week, and it was reported in Dainik Jagran that a serious discussion on starting Kohli was had.

The India T20 World Cup roster is expected to be released in two weeks, and while there has been much conjecture regarding Kohli’s inclusion, it seems like all of the questions have been answered. When Rohit, Dravid, and the selectors got together following the ODI World Cup last year, Kohli’s spot in the T20 side was up for grabs. But in the past few months, a lot has happened. For the Afghanistan home series, Kohli declared himself available. It was their first time playing T20I in almost two years, along with Rohit. In the two matches in which he participated, he batted in his favorite position of No. 3, with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening the batting. However, that could be different at the next T20 World Cup.

The report also states that Kohli requested clarification from the selection committee over his status for the T20 World Cup, and they devised the opening gambit in response. For the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the past several IPL seasons, Kohli has been the regular opener. With 361 runs in seven games and a strike rate of 147, he now holds the Orange Cap. He’s reached the hundred mark already.

Virat Kohli’s numbers as an opener

Not that Kohli hasn’t accomplished this in international cricket. In reality, he opened ODI matches against Sri Lanka in 2008 to begin his international career. He eventually took over the No. 3 position and made it his own. When it comes to T20Is, he has a decent record. The former captain of India has amassed 400 runs at a career average of 57 in nine appearances, surpassing his T20I average of 51.

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Furthermore, in this format, when Kohli opens the batting, his strike rate rises from 138 to 161. In the Asia Cup 2022, he opened the batting against Afghanistan and scored the highest individual score by an Indian in the shortest format—his lone T20I century. India scored 224 runs in their lone opening partnership between Kohli and Rohit, which lasted for nineteen overs. While Rohit blasted a blistering 64 off 34 balls, Kohli led India in scoring with 80 off 52 balls.