Virat Kohli could open with Rohit Sharma because India have got a batsman like Suryakumar Yadav: Zaheer Khan

Former India cricketer Zaheer Khan has said that Virat Kohli could open with his deputy Rohit Sharma only because the team got a batsman like Suryakumar Yadav, who proved his worth at the number 3 position.

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has said that captain Virat Kohli could open with his deputy Rohit Sharma only because of a player like Suryakumar Yadav, who "showed what he can do at the number 3 position".Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma came to open in the 5th and decisive T20I against England in Ahmedabad on Saturday and partnered for 94 runs which helped India post 224 for the loss of 2 wickets 20 overs. Later, the hosts defended the target and won the match by 36 runs to clinch the series 3-2.Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 57 in the 4th T20I, smashed 32 runs off 17 balls in the match."The question one should ask is how it became possible that Virat Kohli could come and open the innings? It became possible because India got a batsman like Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar went there and showed what he can do at no. 3 position."This thinking, I believed started from there, and then the result was that Virat Kohli said that 'I can't keep going down the batting order'. Shreyas Iyer has also been pushed down the batting order. So, he decided that opening the innings could be a better option, let's try it out," Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz.Suryakumar Yadav made his debut in the 2nd T20I itself but did not get an opportunity to bat in the match as India won the match by 7 wickets. He was excluded from the playing XI of 3rd T20I but announced his arrival in style after smashing a six off his his first-ever delivery in international cricket during the 4th T20I.