With the emergence of Ishan Kishan as a specialist opening batter in the international arena, Team India’s think tank is expected to face an awkward dilemma while picking captain Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for the forthcoming ICC World T20 2022. While senior opener Shikhar Dhawan is being given match time in the 50-over format, youngster Kishan is being roped in as Rohit’s opening partner in the absence of KL Rahul. 

When it comes to India’s playing XI for the shortest format, the Chetan Sharma-led national selection committee has opted to move on from veteran opener Dhawan. Kishan had made it to India’s World Cup 2021 squad at the expense of Dhawan. Kishan is also pitted against versatile Rahul for the opening slot in the T20I plating of the Rohit-led side.  

Weighing in on the opener’s debate, former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes premier batter Rahul will open the inning with Rohit at the ICC World T20 2022. “KL Rahul is a long-term opening option for me. When Rahul returns to the team, I think he will open the innings with Rohit. Personally, I feel he will open with Rohit in the T20 World Cup,” Parthiv told Cricbuzz.   

Though Patel has backed Rahul to become Rohit’s ideal opening partner in the next edition of the World Cup, the former Indian batter opined that Kishan is also not a bad option. Sharing his views about the opener’s debate during the discussion, former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra also picked Rahul as Rohit’s opener partner for the ICC World T20. 

“For me, this has been the No. 1 opening pair for quite some time. Of course, when it comes to options, India have innumerable ones and it is up to them which one to pick. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Venkatesh Iyer, Ishan Kishan – all are openers. But for me, in T20Is, Rohit and KL Rahul are the best options as openers for the T20 World Cup,” Nehra added.