Suresh Raina firmly rejects the idea of Virat Kohli opening in T20Is

Virat-Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)

For the umpteenth time, cricket enthusiasts find themselves in the midst of a spirited debate over the prospect of Virat Kohli taking up the opening role for India in T20 Internationals, especially with the impending T20 World Cup on the horizon.

The saga first unfolded in 2021 when Kohli decided to open alongside Rohit Sharma against England, an experiment that concluded with Kohli unbeaten on 80 runs from 52 balls. This prompted Kohli to explore the idea further, as he took up the opening slot for his IPL franchise, the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In 2022, discussions took a back seat until Kohli’s sensational 122 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, breaking his century drought. Though the experiment never materialized in a T20 World Cup game, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid hinted at the possibility in the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan or the upcoming ICC event in June. However, two-time World Cup winner Suresh Raina dismissed the notion.

Addressing the media ahead of the T20I series against Afghanistan, Dravid, while initially confirming Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rohit’s opening partner, did not outright dismiss the notion of Kohli opening during the series. Dravid emphasised that the batting order would be determined by a player’s ability against the bowling attack and the prevailing circumstances rather than sticking to left-right combinations.

“Nothing is closed (Kohli opening with Rohit). We do not doubt that the kind of ability and skill sets players like Rohit and Kohli possess; they will be able to find answers against different kinds of bowling,” said Dravid as quoted by Hindustan Times. He highlighted the importance of players’ abilities against various bowling attacks rather than just focusing on left-right combinations.

One argument supporting Kohli’s potential move to the top of the order is his less-than-stellar record in the middle overs, particularly against spinners. IPL statistics since 2020 reveal a scoring rate of just under 7 runs per over during the middle phase, with a boundary every 10.6 deliveries. These numbers dip further when facing spinners – a scoring rate of 6.3 with a boundary every 14.7 deliveries.

I prefer Kohli to bat at No.3 because if Yasasvi plays, he will open with Rohit: Raina

In response to these stats, Raina, now a cricket expert, firmly rejected the idea of Kohli opening in T20Is. He emphasized the historical success of left-right opening combinations, citing examples like Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag in the 2010s and Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar in the 2000s.

“I prefer Kohli to bat at No.3 because if Yasasvi plays, he will open with Rohit because of that left-right combination. We have seen in the past when Gambhir and Sehwag used to play or when Sachin and Dada (Sourav Ganguly) used to play,” Raina told Hindustan Times.

“And it is not just because of the combination, they are both attacking batters. With Kohli at No.3, India’s line-up looks more solid. He runs between the wickets, and keeps that scoreboard ticking. I feel his ideal position is No. 3. But if the management feels he should open, then Yashasvi can bat at No. 3. But I feel Yashasvi should open because he is young, shows that intent as well so India can get that good early start,” Raina added.

Despite the ongoing debate, Raina supported the return of Kohli and Rohit for the T20I series, considering their experience crucial for India’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“It is an excellent step to have two senior players who have played most T20I games for India. And look at their current form, it’s impressive, especially in the ODI World Cup. Also, the pitches will be a bit tricky at the venues where the T20 World Cup will be held. They need experienced players. Rohit is an experienced captain and brings a lot of quality to the dressing room, while Kohli is on the verge of scoring 12000 runs in T20 cricket. So having them in the squad adds strength and brings that experience factor. With Kohli and Rohit back, India have a chance to win the T20 World Cup,” Raina concluded.