India to break Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli pair? Wasim Jaffer warns team management ahead of Super 8s
Published - 16 Jun 2024, 04:36 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:13 AM
Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer stated that the team management should stick with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as their opening pair for the remainder of the T20 World Cup 2024. Wasim Jaffer said that altering the Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli combination would mess up the whole India batting order.
Rohit Sharma opened alongside Virat Kohli in India's first three matches of the World Cup. However, the opening partnership hasn't come good as their partnership hasn't crossed the powerplay. Nonetheless, the Indian team remained unbeaten in the group stage and advanced to the Super 8s of the marquee tournament.
Virat Kohli entered the T20 World Cup after a strong performance in the IPL 2024. However, he hasn't been able to replicate his success for India. The right-handed batter has scored just five runs across three innings against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA. Virat was dismissed for a golden duck against the United States of America.
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, scored an unbeaten half-century against Ireland in India's World Cup opener. The Indian skipper scored 52 runs off 37 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes before retiring hurt due to an injury. Rohit scored 13 and 3 runs in the next two matches for the Men in Blue in the World Cup.
Don't Think It's Gonna Make Sense - Wasim Jaffer
Speaking to Star Sports, Wasim Jaffer expressed confidence that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will regain their batting prowess in the West Indies. Jaffer emphasized the importance of maintaining the opening partnership to avoid disrupting the entire batting order.
"Now that you are stuck with both of them, I don't think it's gonna make sense because you're gonna split both of them up. You might probably think of playing (Yashasvi) Jaiswal. That's probably what you're thinking, and then Rishabh Pant, who has done so well at number three, he has to bat even lower down the order, probably at number four. Then where does Suryakumar (Yadav) bat. So it's going to mess up the whole batting order, so I think they'll probably stick with that," Jaffer said.
Rishabh Pant Has Done Well At Number Three - Wasim Jaffer
The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted Rishabh Pant's success at number three, and Suryakumar Yadav should not bat him any lower than that. Jaffer stated that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are capable of making a significant impact during the powerplay overs in the upcoming matches in the West Indies.
"Rishabh has done well at number three. Suryakumar, you don't want to bat him any lower than that, so I think they'll stick with that. But yeah, they have to go really hard in the powerplay. We've seen when Australia have done that against England, they were so ahead in the powerplay, getting that 74 runs. That's where you can make a mark. So Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the way they are batting, you could see that happen in the powerplay in West Indies," Jaffer added.
The Rohit Sharma-led team will face an inform Afghanistan team at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, June 20. It will be India's first match in the Caribbean Islands during the T20 World Cup.
