WI vs IND: Rohit Sharma Explains Why Suryakumar Yadav Is Opening In T20I Series vs West Indies

Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that the team management is looking to ensure players get out of their comfort zones and play in different positions in the T20I format, where flexibility is a major factor.

As a reason, India opted to open with Suryakumar Yadav in the first T20I, despite having Rishabh Pant in the team. Pant had opened the innings in the T20I series against England last month.

“We want the guys to be able to bat anywhere, that is one thought. We don’t want guys batting in specific positions – T20 is a different format, guys should be flexible. At the same time, we want to keep in mind certain guys have specific roles and need to bat at specific positions,” Rohit said at the toss in the second T20I.

The team selection was on point in the first T20I wherein India opted to play 3 spinners while the hosts played only one. The spinners ruled the roost and Rohit’s decision was applauded.

“Thought we read the pitch well. I thought as a team we made a right call with three spinners. This ground the dimensions are vastly different, and with the cross wind, we have an extra seamer.”

In the team news, Rohit confirmed that Bishnoi will be sitting out. The leggie took two wickets in the first T20I but the conditions in St Kitts favor the pacers and Avesh Khan replaces him.

“Bishnoi misses out, Avesh comes in. Unfortunate he has to miss out but we want to be clear what we want to do as a team. Team comes first. Lot of guys are here, performing well, but we are trying what to do as a team to play well,” he also added.

Team India playing XI for 2nd T20I:

Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh

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