Former West Indian cricketer, Brian Lara, has come out in support of India’s opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they have been under heavy criticism in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
There have been calls to adjust Kohli somewhere else in the batting lineup, perhaps at number 3. In India’s three matches of the T20 World Cup, Kohli has only scored five runs in total with his high score being just four runs against Pakistan. In India’s last match against the USA, Kohli got out on a golden duck.
As for Rohit, he has only scored big in India’s opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland where he scored 52 runs but against Pakistan and USA, he has scored innings of just 13 and three.
However, Lara has indicated support for India’s opening pair and has urged India to not change their opening partners.
"I believe that the combination India is having and India has to back the two of them [Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma]. At some point in time, they’re going to come good with conditions, the batting conditions in the USA were not the very best. I don’t believe you start making changes especially if you’re winning," the Windies great stated as quoted by Hindustan Times.
He also pointed out that India could have adjusted the opening pair but the players they opted for are two great players who have been great for India so far.
"Definitely, India had the option to play a left-right opening partnership. They went with two great players, two guys who’ve done a great job for India with the bat for their individual franchise as well in terms of the captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. I think they’ve got to stick with it as you just said if you do make changes on top, Virat Kohli has to come in the order a little bit lower and that’s going to upset things there," he added.
India has one more game to play in the T20 World Cup 2024 against Canada on June 15 at the Central Broward Regional Park in Florida.
