IND vs WI: India Wants To Fit Virat Kohli In The XI – Parthiv Patel On Changes In Batting Order In 1st T20I

Former Indian player Parthiv Patel said the changes India made in their batting order in the first T20I are to accommodate Virat Kohli in the lineup in future. 

Suryakumar Yadav, in a very surprising move, was seen opening the batting along with skipper Rohit Sharma in the first T20I against West Indies at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Rishabh Pant, who opened during the England T20Is with Rohit, was slotted in to bat at No.4 and Shreyas Iyer at No.3. Ravindra Jadeja came ahead of Dinesh Karthik to bat at No.6.

Karthik carried forward his brilliant run since staging his return to the national side, he was unbeaten on 41 off 19 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, striking at 215.79. India posted 190/6 in the first innings thanks to fifty from the skipper and a late cameo by the veteran keeper. 

India wants to fit Virat Kohli in the XI: Parthiv Patel 

Parthiv said the changes are being made to ensure former Indian skipper Kohli’s place in the T20I side. Kohli opted out from the T20I series against West Indies and is currently on a break.  

“Whatever changes we are seeing are happening because India wants to fit Virat Kohli in the XI,” Parthiv told Cricbuzz. 

“I would have liked Virat Kohli to play the one-day series. It’s an easier option to come back into form. There are 50 overs and a lot of time, where you can get your 70-80 runs like Shikhar Dhawan or Shubman Gill did, at a run-a-ball,” he added. 

We might see Suryakumar Yadav opening in the entire series: Parthiv Patel 

Parthiv reckoned that India might open with Suryakumar Yadav in the remaining four matches in this series. 

“Rohit Sharma said in the pre-match conference, ‘we know there are holes to fill, and that is the reason why we are going to try different things’. They did that with Rishabh Pant, giving him a full series in England. Now, we might see Suryakumar opening in the entire series. We might see Ravindra Jadeja bowling in the powerplay, just to see what he can produce,” Parthiv said.

India restricted West Indies for 122 for 8 at the end of the game to win by 68 runs. Both teams will move to St Kitts to play the second T20I match on August 1 at the Warner Park. 

Also Read: It Will Be Dangerous To Cut Virat Kohli Off At The Moment – Adam Gilchrist On T20 World Cup Selection