'It won't be such a big issue' - Danish Kaneria suggests changes in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's batting position

The first T20I between India and Australia at the PCA stadium in Mohali left the Rohit Sharma-led team with more questions than answers. Despite amassing 208/6 while batting first, India lost the game by four wickets. Experienced batters like former India skipper Virat Kohli and the current skipper Rohit Sharma were unable to produce good figures, while the bowling department failed miserably. 

Danish Kaneria, a former spinner for the Pakistan cricket team, suggested that India can try to make these changes by deploying Kohli and Sharma in positions other than their typical ones. Both Sharma and Kohli constitute India’s top-order lineup, and with them being the senior players, poor performances by the two results in a shift in India’s momentum.

"Rohit Sharma is not scoring runs while opening. We saw this in the Asia Cup. He is scoring in patches. Virat Kohli also is not being able to score consistently at one down. Maybe you have got a good opportunity - bring Rohit one down, Virat can then open with KL Rahul. Or, if Rohit is very comfortable in opening, then you can start with Virat and him. In that case KL Rahul can be used as one down. It won't be such a big issue," Danish Kaneria said in a video on his YouTube channel.

India's focus shifts to the bowling department

India's shortcomings with the ball were exposed in the opening T20I on Tuesday as Australia easily defeated them by four wickets by chasing down a daunting 209-run target. After Australia put the hosts to bat first, half-centuries by KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, alongside a 46(25) by Suryakumar Yadav helped India record a mammoth 208/6.

Australia dominated the run chase and completed it in 19.2 overs. Matthew Wade, the World Cup hero from last year, and Cameron Green, who scored 61 from 30 balls, both produced outstanding knocks to quickly touch a challenging mark. While Green gave Australia the perfect start that they had looked for, Wade entered the field later in the chase and scored an unbeaten 21-ball 45* to bag a win.