Gautam Gambhir Picks India's Top Order For T20 World Cup; KL Rahul Ignored

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir named his choice of India’s top-order in their batting line-up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year. The mega event is more than four months away from now and team India just like their competitors have started its preparations.

Head coach Rahul Dravid is ruminating to play every potential player in each position and give as many talented stars the equal opportunity to prove their mettle and enhance their chances to get picked in the T20 World Cup squad.

The Indian cricket team is currently occupied with the five-match T20I series against South Africa at home. Two matches are already down and the Men in Blue lost both the fixtures in the absence of their key players.

India missing the ranks of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav in South Africa T20Is

Senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were rested from participating in the five T20Is against the Proteas. Suryakumar Yadav sustained a forearm injury in the middle of IPL 2022 and was subsequently ruled out for Mumbai Indians in the tournament.

Reports suggested that Suryakumar would require at least four weeks to recuperate from his injury and will be out of action in the meantime. The 31-year-old has missed the ongoing South Africa T20I series at home.

Gautam Gambhir names India’s top order for T20 World Cup

Opener KL Rahul, who was initially named captain of India’s 18-member squad for the T20I series, was ruled out due to a groin injury on the eve of the series opener. In Rahul’s absence, Ruturaj Gaikwad opened the batting along with Ishan Kishan, who scored 76 in 48 balls in the first T20I followed by 21-ball 34 in the second match.

Despite being the second-most run-getter in the IPL 2022 with 616 runs in 15 innings at 51.33, Rahul wasn’t the first choice to open for India in Gambhir’s list. The former Indian opener named Mumbai Indians troika of Rohit, Ishan, and Suryakumar in India’s top order for the T20 World Cup.

“Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma to open, and Suryakumar Yadav at number 3 for me,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.

Interestingly, Gambhir was the mentor of IPL debutants Lucknow Super Giants, the franchise Rahul captained in IPL 2022.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Avesh Khan Can Become An Excellent Bowler, Not Only In T20s But In All Three Formats – Gautam Gambhir