Rohit Sharma The decision was part of the process that saw him bat at No. 3 against New Zealand, Indian team’s batting coach Vikram Rathour has confirmed. India chose Ishan Kishan after Suryakumar Yadav was injuredKL Rahul Opening Combination.
Rathore said the change was tactical and the vice-captain of the team had agreed.
“(To start), it was forced. Last night Suriya was having some back cramps. So he was not fit to make it to the playing XI. The man who came in was Ishaan and he made a salute in the IPL. Has done really well as a batsman and also with the Indian team in the past. And about who took the call, the whole management sat together and took the call and of course Rohit is part of that group,” Rathore said. – Said at match press conference, as India take on Afghanistan in their third group league match T20 World Cup on Wednesday.
The batting coach elaborated on the fact that it was a tactical call. “It’s cleverly understated, a left-hander upfront. And (also) because we didn’t want too many left-handers in the middle order of late with Ishaan, (Rishabh) Pant and (Ravindra) Jadeja. So the decision was taken.”
However, it looked like the team management was trying to save Rohit. Trent BoultGiven the batsman’s poor record against the left-arm pacer – getting dismissed three times in T20Is – and on the heels of a golden duck against Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first game against Pakistan.
However, Rohit did not like falling to No. 3 in a winning game that attracted many pundits, including his Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene.
“You can be flexible. But not with your top three batsmen,” Jayawardene told ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out. “That is his role (Rohit opened the innings) he plays in T20 cricket and Virat Kohli Either opener or No. I think KL Rahul will be able to play that No 4 role as he has the ability to change and adapt,” said the former Sri Lanka captain.
Till the home T20I series against England Earlier this year, the team management saw Rahul as the No. 4 batsman in the shortest format, while Kohli expressed his desire to open alongside Rohit in the T20 World Cup. The team management took a U-turn ahead of the tournament and promoted Rahul as an opener on the basis of his stellar form in the IPL.
Rathor in the mix
His immense experience as India’s batting coach over the past two years has inspired Rathour to throw his hat in the ring again.
“Going forward, I have already applied for the batting coach job and if I get the job… there is a lot of work to be done. Rathore described his current tenure as a “learning experience”.
The other coaching staff, head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar are moving ahead after the T20 World Cup. former captain of india Rahul Dravid Shastri is set to be replaced as the head coach.
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