Sanjay Bangar selects a new Indian opening pair for second T20I against Australia

After losing the ODI series by 1-2 against Australia, India started the three-match T20I series on a winning note as they registered a comprehensive victory against Australia by 11 runs at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday. The two cricketing superpowers will now lock horns in the second T20I on December 6, Sunday. Ahead of the match, former Indian opener and assistant coach Sanjay Bangar opined that the Indian side should make a change in the opening pair.

Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma isn’t a part of white-ball cricket against Australia as he is undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Thus, the Men in Blue had to make significant changes in their squad and had introduced a new opening pair for both ODI and T20I series.

While in the first and second ODI, Mayank Agarwal opened the game for India alongside Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill was given the chance in the last game of the ODI series. Similarly, Virat Kohli decided to give a chance to wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul to bat at the opening slot with Shikhar Dhawan in the first T20I in Canberra. KL Rahul claimed a spot in the top-order as he smashed 51 runs off 50 deliveries.

KL Rahul has done great service to the Indian team: Sanjay Bangar

However, Sanjay Bangar believes that India should tweak their winning opening combination and should give a chance to Mayank Agarwal alongside Shikhar Dhawan. He further added that KL Rahul had done well in the India tour of New Zealand at number 5 slot in the shortest format of the game.

“It’s going to be a toss-up right because Rohit Sharma, unfortunately, isn’t available for the team, so I believe they will have to go with Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan. Shikhar Dhawan is going to be a consistent factor, but whether they opt to go with KL Rahul, who has again been in fabulous touch, is something that needs to be seen,” Bangar said on the show Gameplan on Star Sports.

“KL Rahul has done great service to the Indian team in the recent past when he’s batted at No. 5, but I believe that Mayank Agarwal may just open with Shikhar Dhawan,” he added.