Should Virat Kohli open alongside Rohit Sharma in T20 World Cup? Sunil Gavaskar gives his verdict

India’s legendary cricketer and world cup winner in 1983, Sunil Gavaskar has given his verdict on the hot debate on whether Virat Kohli should open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma for Team India at T20 World Cup 2024. 

The Rohit Sharma led Indian Cricket Team is all set to open its T20 World Cup campaign with their Group A fixture against Ireland in the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. 

Ahead of India’s T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, Sunil Gavaskar has picked the ideal batting order that Team India should line up with in USA and West Indies. 

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Sunil Gavaskar’s verdict on Virat Kohli opening with Rohit Sharma

Sunil Gavaskar is of the opinion that Virat Kohli should open alongside Rohit Sharma at the T20 World Cup 2024 and Yashasvi Jaiswal should slot in at the number 3 spot.  

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to open the batting along with Yashasvi Jaiswal at three”, Sunil Gavaskar revealed on Star Sports while giving his ideal lineup for Team India at T20 World Cup. 

Virat Kohli opened the batting with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2024 and finished the season as the highest run scorer of the tournament and winning the orange cap. 

Sunil Gavaskar further picked Rishabh Pant to start as the wicketkeeper batsman ahead of Sanju Samson in the squad and he further chose Mohammed Siraj over Arshdeep Singh to partner alongside Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling line up. 

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"Suryakumar Yadav at four, Rishabh Pant at five. At number six, I would have Hardik Pandya, number seven would be Ravindra Jadeja, number eight, not necessarily in that batting order, Shivam Dube. Number nine Kuldeep Yadav, number 10 Jasprit Bumrah and number 11 will be Siraj," said Sunil Gavaskar. 

India will open its T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5th, then they will renew their fierce rivalry in the much anticipated matchup against Pakistan on June 9th. The men in blue will also face the host nation of USA and their neighbours Canada in the remaining Group Stage fixtures before potentially progressing to Super 8. 

(With PTI Inputs)