Can Virat Kohli open with Rohit Sharma at T20 WC? Ex-Indian cricketer backs star batter for 3rd opener spot

Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra has explained why the debate around Virat Kohli opening the innings with Rohit Sharma will only lead to more confusion within the Indian think tank. The Chetan Sharma-led national selection committee panel is expected to announce India's squad for the Asia Cup in the first week of August. According to a report, the Board of Control for India (BCCI) is likely to name the same squad for Team India's Asia Cup and T20 World Cup campaigns.

Kohli, who has been rested for the West Indies and Zimbabwe series, will be making his international return at the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup. In the past 12 months, Team India has tried eight openers in the shortest format. Former Indian skipper Kohli had also auditioned for the opener's spot when he opened the innings with Rohit against England in 2021. Sharing a video on his YouTube channel about the opener's dilemma of the Indian team, former cricketer Chopra shared his views on the formidable top-order of the 2007 world champions.

"There is a debate about whether Virat and Rohit should open. We were like, 'Wow, it will be fun'. But is that really fun, or are we just adding to the confusion? Defining a role in T20Is is almost as critical as Test cricket. You need specialist openers, specialist finishers, and someone who could hustle in the middle-order," Chopra said.

India picked Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as openers for the 2021 edition of the World Cup. Under Kohli's leadership, Team India failed to enter the business end of the T20 World Cup. Kohli also stepped down as India's captain after the T20 World Cup.

"Rohit and Rahul were consistent and also did well in the warm-up games. But they both failed in the first game against Pakistan and then India wanted a left-right combination. So they pushed Rohit to No.3 which was something I honestly didn't think would happen," Chopra observed.

The former Indian opener and full-time cricket pundit also backed Kishan for the third opener's role at the T20 World Cup 2022. Chopra pointed out that Kishan has played the most number of matches for India in the build-up to the ICC World T20. The 24-year-old has scored 532 runs from 18 matches since his T20I debut in 2021.

"Ishan Kishan is the opener who has played the most games this year with 13 to his name. With a strike rate of 132 and an average of 32, he has done alright. India had a chance to play him recently, but they didn't. So are we losing faith in him? If that happens, I will be disappointed. It is very difficult to remain consistent in this format so you need to back him to play freely. He should be a front-runner for that third opener spot. But is he? I don't know," he added.