With less than five months remaining for the commencement of the T20 World Cup 2022, Team India is spoiled with the problem of plenty while finalizing the tarting 11. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team management has a plethora of options to pick from plenty of opening combinations. The skipper is all set to be India’s first-choice opening batsman.
KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Virat Kohli are a few of the contenders for the spot alongside skipper, Rohit Sharma. Ishan Kishan, the young southpaw was given a go in the recently concluded series against South Africa and he managed to impress the fans and the experts with remarkable consistency, making him an excellent choice to open in the marquee event.
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Meanwhile, former Indian batting coach, Sanjay Bangar has come up with a unique option for the same spot. He has some in support of Rishabh Pant to open the innings along with skipper Rohit Sharma. Bangar confessed that Pant can be the best option if India is looking at a left-right opening combination for the long-term. He added that the decision will immensely help Rishabh Pant’s career in terms of consistency with the bat.
During a recent chat with Star Sports, Sanjay Bangar said, “I’ve been thinking about it for 3 years. If you look at Sachin Tendulkar’s career, he hit his first century in his 75th or 76th innings in white-ball cricket when he was asked to open the innings against New Zealand after batting largely in the middle-order.”
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He further added, “Right now, the Indian team is looking at a left-right combination. Yes, Ishan Kishan is doing well right now, but if the Indian team is eyeing a left-right opening pair for the long term, Rishabh Pant can do the same job that someone like Adam Gilchrist did for Australia.”
Here is how the fans reacted to the comments of Sanjay Bangar:
Ishan Kishan retire ho gaya hai kya? Uske hote huye ye saala Jhandu opening karega? 🤷♀️ #INDvSA #RishabhPant
— Sack Chushabh Ghant (@madam_jadeja) June 20, 2022
Has he heard of Ishan Kishan?
— gamesetandmatch (@vicktorius) June 20, 2022
Tbh… It's not a bad option if management wants to stick with him. KL is tried and tested. Pant should be given opportunities to open if the management wants the best from him. If it doesn't work then we can be back to KL.
— 𝙈𝙙 𝘼𝙯𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣 (@azharsays_) June 20, 2022
There are more than enough options for opening. Of course, he can be a beast if opens but he is needed more in the middle order right now.
— Prakash Kalluri (@prak_ash64) June 20, 2022
भाई उसकी शॉट्स की रेंज सीमित है,पैर चलते नहीं हैं, मजबूती छोड़कर कमजोरी ही कमजोरी है,अतः उसे कहीं भी खिला लो विफल ही रहेगा।
— himanshu dixit (@dixit_nanu) June 20, 2022
Rohit Sharma – KL Rahul – Virat Kohli – Ishan Kishan
Only two should be in the playing XI
Surya Kumar yadav -Shreyas Iyer – Rahul Tripathi – Rishab Pant
Only two should be in the playing XI
👍🏽 Or 👎— Senthilkumar B.D.Moorthy (@SKP_senthiltnj) June 20, 2022
