Virender Sehwag Urges Indian Team Management To Prefer Dinesh Karthik & KL Rahul Over Suresh Raina

Former India batsman Virender Sehwag has said that Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul should get a chance ahead of Suresh Raina while MS Dhoni should play at No. 4 or 5 in the upcoming T20I 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, Rahul has also been enjoying a purple patch with the bat. Playing for Kings XI Punjab, Rahul opened the innings and scored a staggering 659 runs in 13 games including a 14-ball fifty which is the fastest-ever fifty in IPL. He also staked a claim for a place in the team by blasting 70 off just 36 in the second T20I against Ireland.

Raina also scored a fifty in the second T20I. However, Sehwag feels India should promote Rahul and Karthik ahead of Raina. The batting legend also opined that MS Dhoni should be promoted to number five.

Dhoni had looked in good form in this year’s IPL, scoring 455 runs.

“Raina is playing in place of an injured player, DK has been there in the team before him. So he deserves a chance. Looking at his form, India must play KL in limited-overs cricket. He made runs in the last match also, so I don’t think it will be a wise decision to exclude him from the team. It will be good for India if Dhoni bats at No 4 or 5,” Sehwag told India TV.

Sehwag further revealed his Indian playing eleven, saying: “Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni and four bowlers.”

India and England will lock horns in the first T20I on Tuesday.