Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has voiced his strong opinion regarding the composition of the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, advocating for the inclusion of Virat Kohli and proposing an opening partnership between Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Kohli, currently the leading run-scorer in the IPL, demonstrated his capability by scoring a century in just 67 balls against the Rajasthan Royals. Despite facing criticism for his strike rate, Ganguly believes Kohli possesses the potential to achieve a century in a mere 40 balls, akin to Travis Head’s feat. “India’s prowess hinges on their ability to score big early in the innings,” Ganguly remarked, emphasizing the importance of aggressive batting from the outset.
Expressing his viewpoint, Ganguly emphasized that while the final decision rests with the selectors, he strongly advocates for Kohli and Sharma to open the innings. He urged the selection committee, along with coaches Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, to prioritize the team’s best interests for the T20 World Cup.
Despite their age, Kohli and Sharma remain India’s best batters and it makes perfect sense for them to open the innings and face the maximum amount of deliveries in the innings.
Addressing concerns about selecting players based solely on IPL performances, Ganguly emphasized the need for a balanced team comprising both experienced stalwarts and promising youngsters. He stressed the importance of evaluating players consistently across various formats, highlighting the noteworthy performances of individuals like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dubey, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav.
In Ganguly’s perspective, the selection process should not be swayed by isolated IPL performances but should instead consider players’ overall contributions and consistency across multiple seasons. He expressed confidence in the selectors’ ability to make informed decisions, emphasizing the importance of a balanced blend of experience and youth in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
