Virat Kohli may open innings with Rohit Sharma in T20 World Cup: Saba Karim

Bhubaneswar: With Virat Kohli’s back-to-back half-centuries in the ongoing IPL, Indian cricket fans are hopeful that the skipper’s splendid form will continue in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Former India selector Saba Karim feels that Kohli might pair up with Rohit Sharma to open the innings for Team India in the world cup, slated to be played in the UAE and Oman from October 17.

“It looks like Virat Kohli might open the innings with Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup. He seems to be enjoying this role. With back-to-back half-centuries, he is scoring runs at a good strike-rate. He knows which shots to play and what risks to take,” said Saba Karim on YouTube show ‘Khelneeti’.

Karim further said that Kohli’s current form is a good sign for the RCB and the India cricket team. If someone is opening the batting with good strike-rate even after the end of the powerplay, then the player should put on a big total on the board for the team, he said.

While Kohli has not scored any century in the international cricket during the last two years, his current form in the IPL might be the signs of the batsman returning to his best phase.

Former South Africa and RCB pacer Dale Steyn recently said Royal Challengers Bangalore want Kohli to continue to be aggressive.

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports’ live feed of select dugout, Steyn said, ” I think the guys prefer to see him be more aggressive, it seems to get him to play a bit more fluently. It kind of sparks the younger players too, a lot of the younger guys have massive respect for Virat, and they admire him so much that they kind of follow in his direction.

“When he’s fighting fire with fire and nobody’s doing it for India, you can hear all the quicks, when they were playing against England recently, how they were talking about following their captain and they wanting to play fighting fire with fire. So, he does lead from the front in that aspect and RCB love it. He’s kind of built that thought around RCB now. It’s the kind of culture that they have got in that dressing room.”