India Need To Play Their Best XI To Win This Series: VVS Laxman Opposes Rohit Sharma's Exclusion From The 1st T20I

Former India batsman, VVS Laxman opines that Rohit Sharma should have played in the first T20I against England, which the hosts lost, on Friday, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

It came as a massive surprise when, at the toss, Virat Kohli revealed that Shikhar Dhawan will open alongside KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma has been rested as the skipper himself a day before the game has confirmed Rohit-Rahul as the first-choice opening pair.

It didn’t turn out well for India, as both openers were dismissed cheaply – both bowled off the high pace from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. India succumbed to the hard lengths of English pacers and posted a below-ordinary 124 on the board which was comfortably chased down as the visitors take a 1-0 lead in the series.

This England team is very different from the Test team: VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman points out that Eoin Morgan’s white-ball side is very different from Joe Root’s Test team – with experience being the major contrasting factor between both sides.

The 46-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator asserts that England’s T20 outfit, which is the top ICC ranked side, is highly talented and experienced as well. Hence, Laxman believes India should play its best eleven if they intend to win the series.

“I feel if you want to win this series, which Virat Kohli and the Indian team wants to do, you need to play your best playing XI. I can understand not playing Rohit Sharma because Shikhar Dhawan is also an experienced batsman and KL Rahul is also an in-form experienced player.

“But if you don’t play the right combination against England, it will be very difficult to exert pressure because England is not lacking in experience,” VVS Laxman told Star Sports.

“The Test series was a different challenge as the wickets were in India’s favour, the England team had inexperienced batsmen but this England team is a very talented and experienced T20 side. So if you don’t play your best playing XI, it will be very difficult especially since this was the first match of the series,” the former batsman further added.

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