IND vs AFG: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal To Be Openers, But Door Open For Virat Kohli - Rahul Dravid

With reports emerging of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opening in the first T20I match against Afghanistan, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has cleared all the speculations. Dravid stated that Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be opening in the first T20I match whereas Virat will be unavailable for the match due to personal reasons.

While speaking in the pre-IND vs AFG 1st T20I match press conference, Rahul Dravid stated that the team management is happy with the way Yashasvi Jaiswal has performed till now. Dravid added that Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal will open for the team as the youngster gives the side a left-hand option at the top order.

We will be certainly opening with Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal – Rahul Dravid

“As of now, we will be certainly opening with Rohit and Jaiswal,” Dravid said on the eve of the first T20I against Afghanistan, when asked if Virat Kohli could open with Rohit. “But when you have a squad, you have to have that flexibility to do whatever is required if that is in the best interest of the team and gives us the best chance to succeed.

“So nothing is closed. But certainly, we’re really happy with what Jaiswal has done as an opener for us, and he gives us a left-right combination as well at the top.”

Earlier, as per the ‘The Telegraph’, it was reported that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might open for India in the T20I format. However, all the reports have turned fake as it will be the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma beginning the innings for India in Mohali.

Rohit Sharma is India’s second-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket and has scored 3853 runs from 148 matches at an average of 31.32. Sharma has slammed four hundreds in T20I cricket.

Yashasvi Jaiswal on the other hand has been striking the ball at 159.25 and has played 15 T20I matches for India. Jaiswal has scored 430 runs with one hundred and three half-centuries.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are returning to India’s T20I setup after almost 14 months following India’s disappointing loss to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final. Virat had been in sublime form in the tournament and played a knock of 82* runs during a group match against Pakistan. India were in no position to win the match, however, Virat Kohli ensured that India crossed the line at the end.

This will also be the first time that Rohit Sharma will be leading India in the T20I format after the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final. Sharma has done really well as a captain in the Tests and ODIs. Now, he will want to repeat his success in the shortest international format and want to win his first ICC trophy as captain of India.

However, the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has increased the headache of the selectors. The Indian management will have to build the team combination from scratch. If Rohit had not played in the T20 World Cup 2024, there were speculations that Hardik Pandya would lead the Indian team.

The Indian selectors had been giving chances to many young players and were building the core of the team for the upcoming big tournament. However, with Rohit Sharma leading India in the T20 World Cup, India are hot favorites to lift the trophy.