Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan key for India in Asia Cup, says Brett Lee

Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will be key for India if they aspire to do well in the upcoming Asia Cup, feels former Australian speedster, Brett Lee. Sharma will lead the Indian side in the absence of their regular captain Virat Kohli who has been rested while Dhawan will be his deputy. India take on Hong Kong in their first encounter of the tournament on September 18 and will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan the next day.

With no Kohli or veteran Suresh Raina to take care of the middle-order, a lot will depend on how the Sharma-Dhawan partnership goes in the tournament. The duo has been one of India’s most successful in the limited-overs formats and they together have 31 ODI centuries among them, four less than Kohli’s tally of 35.

“Two key batsmen for India in the Asia Cup Shikhar Dhawan and secondly Rohit Sharma. I believe Rohit will get the best out of himself and also the team because he has been given that extra bit of responsibility to lead the Indian side,” Asia Cup’s official broadcaster Star Sports quoted the former fast bowler as saying.

UAE wickets will favour Rohit

Lee, 41, also felt that Sharma will be able to do well in the United Arab Emirates where the tournament will be played for the wickets will favour him.

“The great Virat Kohli is being rested for the tournament, so that allows Shikhar and Rohit to be pushed up. There is a lot of talk about how Rohit can’t face left arm fast bowlers – with the swing and the ball going across him,” said the veteran of 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 T20Is.

“Yes, they will bring on the left-arm fast bowlers to target Rohit but I believe on the lower and slower wickets in UAE, Rohit will dominate. I believe the wicket will help him out,” he added.

On Dhawan, who hit some runs of late after a disappointing first half of the ongoing England tour, Lee said the former would have to make some adjustments in terms of technique.

India are likely to play Pakistan at least twice in the tournament if not more and it will be a big responsibility on the shoulders of both Sharma and Dhawan – two of the squad’s seniormost players – to see their team through.

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