India vs England: Virat Kohli confirms opening pair for the ODI series

After registering a thrilling victory in the T20I series, the Indian team is all set to take over Englishmen in ODI series commencing on 23rd March in Pune. India tried varying opening combinations in the T20I series but the duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the series decider put each and everyone in complete surprise and delight. The innovative idea worked too well for the team but now all the eyes are on ODI playing XI.

Shikhar Dhawan was sent to bench right after the first T20I and youngsters were preferred, thereafter. However, talking about the opening pair of ODI series, skipper Virat Kohli made it quite clear that the experienced pair of Dhawan and Sharma will open the order for the hosts. They have been essaying the same role with utmost perfection in last few years.

“Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma will definitely open. When it comes to ODI, there are no doubts about that. They’ve been amazing over the past few years,” said Kohli in his press conference.

I want to understand my role as opener: Virat Kohli

Throwing some light on his opener’s role, Kohli added that it was a strategic move and it worked out too well for them. The skipper said that he would take up the same role in IPL 2021 too and will take up any role that the team will require at that particular moment. He made it clear that he had to make a change in his position to make someone like Suryakumar Yadav pitch in.

“As Rohit mentioned, it was a strategic move but we enjoyed batting together and we saw the effects of batting together. It’s not a guarantee that this is going to continue in the future. I am going to open in the IPL to keep all options. Now I want to understand my role as an opener as well so that I can open up a slot for someone like Surya. I should be able to play any kind of role that the team requires me to. We’ll take a call closer to the World Cup,” Kohli concluded.