T20 World Cup 2022 India Squad: Sunil Gavaskar, Graeme Smith Pick Their India Openers For Marquee Tournament

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar and legendary South Africa captain Graeme Smith have picked their India openers for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, which will be held in Australia later this year.

India captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain KL Rahul are the first-choice openers of the Indian team. Also, young opener Ishan Kishan is battling to book his place in India’s T20 World Cup squad as a backup opener.

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Kishan had a great run in the five-match T20I series against South Africa at home as he finished as the highest run-scorer in the series with 206 runs in his bag at a strike rate of 150.36, including two half-centuries. Also, Kishan is India’s highest run-getter in T20 International (T20I) cricket in the year 2022.

I would think the opening combination would be KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma – Sunil Gavaskar

Indian batting legend Gavaskar, while speaking during the 5th T20I between India and South Africa in Bengaluru, said that the India captain and vice-captain will be India’s openers in the marquee tournament given they are fully fit to compete.

“I would think the opening combination would be if KL Rahul is fit, then KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma,” Gavaskar said when asked about India’s ideal opening partnership in the World Cup.

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith agreed with Gavaskar and said that Rohit and Rahul are two outstanding opening batters and they have been scoring runs for the Indian team consistently. He also talked about the chances of young opener Kishan after his stellar run in the South Africa T20I series.

“I would go with Sunny as well. I think those are two outstanding opening batters. People would be talking about Ishan Kishan, but I think consistently Kl Rahul and Rohit Sharma have done the business and two outstanding batters India will have at the top of the order there,” Smith said.

Speaking of the five-match T20I series between India and South Africa, the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa won the first two games back-to-back and then Rishabh Pant-led India won the 3rd and 4th T20I consecutively. The 5th T20I, which was played in Bengaluru, got washed out due to the rain and the series ended in a draw.

Also Read: “When I Look Back On The 8 Months, South Africa Was A Bit Of A Disappointment” – Rahul Dravid

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