|| India Correspondent ||
Former India cricketer, VVS Laxman has recently said that India needs to bring some changes at the top of the order in the upcoming five-match T20I series against England which will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium from Friday, 12th of March. Laxman said KL Rahul should open with Rohit Sharma whereas Shikhar Dhawan should be the back-up opener.
Rahul has a stunning record for India in the shortest format for the last few years and was in great form in the three-match T20I series in Australia as well.
"It will be a tough question, as far as the selection of the second opener is concerned. There’s no doubt about that because Rohit Sharma is an automatic choice in white ball cricket. I will still go with KL Rahul, because over the last few months and years I think the Indian team management went with KL Rahul as an opening batsman and he has done really well in that position," revealed VVS Laxman.
KL Rahul has an average of 47.18 and a strike rate of 148.03 in his name as an opener for India since 2018. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan, who is a brilliant ODI batsman, does not have tasted the same result in T20I cricket. He has an average of 33.11 and strike rate of 133.72 at the top of the order in this time-frame as well.
However, both of them had a stunning Indian Premier League last year in the UAE. While KL Rahul was the highest scorer with 670 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 129.34, Dhawan was at the second position with 618 runs in 17 innings at a blistering strike rate of 144.73 which also included two centuries.
"Yes, Shikhar Dhawan had a fantastic IPL, the way he batted top of the order, scoring centuries for Delhi capitals and then he’s in tremendous form for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare, where he scored a big 100 in that tournament as well. With KL Rahul as an opening combination, you want someone who’s second. Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup, you have to identify who your openers are going to be there in the World Cup and back them; don’t chop and change. You have someone as experienced as Shikhar Dhawan, who can be the backup opener in case one of these openers Rohit Sharma/ KL Rahul gets injured or loose their form," further added Laxman.
With the pool of talented players in the squad, it will certainly be a difficult job for the Indian management. However, it will be interesting to see who fits the bill.