India's Big Question For T20 World Cup: If KL Rahul Opens, Virat Kohli Plays At No.3, Who Misses Out In Middle Order?
NDTV
Going into the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup later this year, India's big selection question revolves around fitting Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in the team.
Even one year back it was beyond imagination that Virat Kohli's place in the Indian team could be questioned. Kohli is fit and available but perhaps for the first time in a decade, the former India captain's presence in the playing eleven could be a point of discussion in cricketing circle. The T20 World Cup in the UAE last year was an unmitigated disaster and it was largely due to India's archaic batting philosophy at the top of the order. The runs scored did not come at a good pace.
It was debated if KL Rahul, Rohit and Kohli are the ideal No. 1, 2, and 3 in the shortest format and the answer received from most quarters wasn't exactly in the affirmative.
A good 10 months down line, the Indian team management finds itself at the same crossroads with another edition set to commence in October.
If India repeats its top three in Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, then one of the three other top T20 performers -- Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav and Dinesh Karthik -- would find it tough to stay inside playing XI.
Pant has that 'X-factor', Suryakumar is a bonafide 360 degree hitter and Karthik is a designated finisher.
