Pathan Proposal: Virat Opening Paves Way for Rinku and Shivam in Playing XI

Virat Opening Paves Way for Rinku and Shivam in Playing XI: In the Indian playing XI for the upcoming T20 World Cup, former seam-bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan suggested that Virat Kohli opening the innings with Rohit Sharma could provide opportunities for power-hitting finishers like Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube.

Irfan emphasized the importance of firepower at the top of the order by highlighting Jaiswal's 160 international strike rate.

However, the former Indian all-rounder also suggested that if Virat Kohli opened, it might allow Shivam Dubey and Rinku Singh to be included in the playing XI.

Due to their right-hand and left-hand combinations, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma should open for India.

Pathan said on Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to World Cup, "Don't forget Jaiswal's international strike rate is 160 and you need that firepower."

However, starting with former captain Kohli, who typically takes some time to settle into his batting rhythm, also has certain advantages.

During the home T20Is against Afghanistan earlier this year, Rohit and Kohli returned to India's T20I squad after a hiatus of 14 months.

Since India's semifinal loss to eventual champions England in Adelaide, Australia, both Virat and Rohit have been absent from the T20I squad.

In T20Is, Kohli accumulated 4,037 runs, and in the T20 World Cup, he accumulated 1,141 runs, including 14 fifty-plus scores.

Rohit is currently the fourth-highest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup with 963 runs.

In addition, Pathan believes that Yashasvi Jaiswal's underrated leg-breaks should be utilized if he is selected for the final XI, given that none of the top six batsmen bowl.

He added, "Otherwise, if you look at the batting order, no one bowls. No one bowls in top six and that's the biggest challenge what we have as Indian cricket."

He further said, "And that's what we need to consider that as well. So for me, Jaiswal, Rohit and then Virat bats at number three."

Matthew Hayden also wants Kohli to bat as much as possible during the powerplay.

"By popular consensus of the panel, I've got Virat there. I've got to have him in the powerplay. If I'm going to pick him, he has to play in the powerplay.”

"He has to play the majority of those six overs as an opener, because Yashasvi does deserve to be there in my opinion, and it will be a left and right hand combination which will be a huge bonus, and that's why I say it's such a pivotal selection, this."

Kohli's batting position has never been this important to Hayden.

The deadline for announcing the provisional team for the T20 World Cup approaches, and Indian selectors will meet soon to choose the best 15-member team.

In addition to the majority of the squad choosing themselves, there are other candidates, and the selectors will have to make some difficult decisions.