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Former West Indian batter Brian Lara has earmarked the opening pair of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to come good in the upcoming matches in the T20 World Cup 2024. The 55-year-old wants Team India to stick with them instead of making changes.
Contrary to expectations, the star-studded opening pair of Kohli and Rohit haven't come good in the first three matches of the tournament. Their partnership hasn't even extended to the powerplay so far, with Kohli's form the most concerning, as he has registered three single-figure scores.
Speaking to Star Sports, Lara reflected that India had the opportunity to play a right-hand and left-hand combination but made the correct choice to insert Kohli and Rohit. The Trinidadian elaborated:
"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."
Even as India completed the New York leg with three wins in as many matches, Rohit Sharma admitted that batting at the venue hasn't been easy. Notably, the totals defended in New York have been 119 and 113 and the highest successful run-chase is the 111 that India completed against the USA.
"I don’t believe you start making changes especially if you’re winning" - Brian Lara
Lara reckons the wickets in the West Indies should allow the Indian duo to fire as the conditions in the USA were not the best. He added:
"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 seven-wicket win over the USA sealed India's spot in the Super 8 stage. The Men in Blue's final group game is against Canada on June 15.
