KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma
Kl Rahul. Image: Twitter

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain believes that India made a wrong call to split up openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 encounter against Kane Williamson-led New Zealand.

Middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav had some back problems and Ishan Kishan was bought in as his replacement in the New Zealand clash and skipper Virat Kohli confirmed that Kishan will be opening the batting for them. Many expected Kishan to open with his Mumbai Indians skipper but it didn’t happen as Ishan Kishan opened the innings with Rahul and Rohit batted at 3.

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Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain (Image Credit: Twitter

Speaking to t20worldcup.com Nasser said that Hardik Pandya playing as a pure batsman “alters the balance’ of the Indian team.

“I see India as a very talented side but sometimes selection wise Hardik Pandya just playing as a batter alters the balance of the side. Against New Zealand, the idea to split Rohit and Rahul was not a good one,” Nasser Hussain said.

India Don’t Quite Play The Fearless Brand Of Cricket – Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain (Image Credit: Twitter

Hussain further added that India didn’t play the fearless brand of cricket in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 despite having a bunch of talented players in the team.

You have got to go out and express yourself. India has got so much talent. That may be the only thing that’s holding India back in ICC events. They don’t quite play the fearless brand of cricket that they deserve to because they are so talented,” he maintained.

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Nasser Hussain on WTC final
Nasser Hussain. Photo Credit: (Sky Sports)

Nasser Hussain pinpointed that he had India as favourites to win the World Cup but they didn’t perform up to the mark.

I had them as favourites. They had been playing IPL here, are a star-studded side. They got a setback in that first game. The way Shaheen Afridi bowled in the powerplay, those two deliveries that Rohit and Rahul got would have got a lot of great cricketers out.

“That’s sometimes the problem with the Indian side. They are so good at the top, some of the middle-order don’t get much of a hit and suddenly you need a Plan B and that was found wanting,” he elaborated. 

Virat Kohli-led India faced two consecutive defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in the first two games which eventually resulted in them getting knocked out of the semi-finals race.

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Sonanchal Gautam is the Assistant Content Manager at Cricketaddictor. He is a professional Wrestling and Hip-hop enthusiast.