Dinesh Karthik Might Get A Chance Ahead Of Suresh Raina: Virender Sehwag

Former India batsman Virender Sehwag has said that Dinesh Karthik should get a chance ahead of Suresh Raina in the upcoming ODIs against England. 

Karthik has been in stunning form since the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka earlier this year. In the final, he had slammed 29 off just eight balls – to guide India to a thrilling win over Bangladesh. The right-hander followed it up with a stunning show in the IPL. He finished the season with 498 runs at an average of almost 50 and a strike-rate of over 147.

On the other hand, Raina made it to the ODI team only after Ambati Rayudu was dropped after he failed the yo yo test. Raina had last played an ODI way back in October 2015 against South Africa before he was dropped after a string of poor performances.

And with Karthik in a better form at the moment, Sehwag feels the time is right to give him a chance in the playing eleven.

“I feel Dinesh Karthik might get a chance ahead of Suresh Raina as Karthik’s performance in the Nidahas Trophy and IPL 2018 was impressive. I think now is the best time for Karthik to play,” Sehwag told IndiaTV.

With almost all the batsmen in good form, the Indian team composition has been a talking point since the beginning of the tour. In the T20Is, Virat Kohli threw a huge surprise by promoting KL Rahul to No. 3 while playing as a floater himself. And Sehwag feels India should continue playing in the same order.

“I think KL Rahul should come at No.3 because Dhawan and Rohit will continue to open. Captain Kohli will come at No.4. I feel this will be India’s batting order. I don’t feel there will be too many changes to the playing XI,” quipped Sehwag.

The batting legend went on to say that India start as favourites to win the ODI series if they continue playing in the same way as they have so far on the tour.

“I feel if India play the ODIs the same way they played in the T20I series, they will be able to beat England because in my opinion, the Indian team is stronger than England in both batting and bowling departments. I feel India will clinch this series 3-0 or by 2-1,” he said.

In Sehwag’s view, the performance of the spinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal – will be key to India’s chances.

“India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have the ability to overpower England in ODIs. A lot will depend on how the English batsmen play against Kuldeep and Chahal in the middle overs,” commented the 39-year-old.