Kris Srikkanth Backs KL Rahul To Open With Rohit Sharma In T20Is

Updated - 06 Dec 2019, 02:30 PM

Kris Srikkanth. Credit: Getty Images

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Team India after convincing wins against South Africa and Bangladesh will begin their campaign against West Indies later today at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Ahead of the opener, former cricketer, Kris Srikkanth has backed talented opener KL Rahul to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the shortest format, stating that India should look beyond Shikhar Dhawan.

The cricketer from Karnataka, who has been in the firing line for his poor outings in recent times, will get a final opportunity to showcase his talents. Rahul has been in excellent form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and will hope to replicate his excellent touch in the international arena. And with Shikhar Dhawan ruled out due to injury, Rahul in all certainty will open the innings in the first match later today.

India should look beyond Dhawan: Kris Srikkanth

Dhawan has failed to get going since his ouster from the ICC World Cup owing to a finger injury. While the southpaw was struggling hard to find his form and the untimely injury has worsened the situation. Kris Srikkanth also urged the management to look beyond Shikhar Dhawan and make KL Rahul a permanent opener in the T20Is with the ICC T20 World Cup looming large.

“The hosts (India) …. need to slot KL Rahul firmly as an opener and look beyond Dhawan,” Srikkanth wrote in his column for The Times of India. “The need of the hour is instant firepower, and that’s one area where India are lacking. Of course, there is (Virat) Kohli and other talents to make up, but that might not be enough on the big day, as the team has found out in many ICC tournaments over the last few years,” he added.