Suresh Raina expresses thoughts on Rohit and Kohli's inclusion in T20I squad vs AFG

Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina (Pic: AFP)

Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina on Thursday stated that the selection of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the T20I series against Afghanistan is a wise call keeping in mind the ICC T20 World Cup which is approaching fast.

Sharma and Kohli will feature in India's T20 side after a gap of 14 months and Raina said their presence will give the squad a lot of solidity.

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"If you look at the World Cup venues (in the USA and the West Indies), the wicket will be a bit tricky. India will need the experience of Rohit and Kohli there. Kohli is about to make 12000 runs in T20 cricket. So, their presence will boost India's batting. Their presence will certainly better India's chances to win the T20 WC," said Raina, now an expert with JioCinema and Sports18, in a select interaction.

"Their form in the ODI World Cup was very good, and Rohit brings in a lot of intent to the dressing room as the leader as well."

Raina opined that Kohli should bat at No. 3, leaving the opening slots to Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. "I think Kohli should bat at No. 3. His experience will bring in some solidity, especially in the challenging pitches in the US and the Caribbean. There are fearless, young cricketers like Jaiswal, Rinku Singh or Shubman Gill but Rohit and Kohli will give the unit a lot of solidity. Their presence is very important when we chase a target especially in a high-pressure event like the World Cup," said Raina.

Suresh Raina who was part of India's squad in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups was delighted to see rising star Rinku Singh's progress.

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"Rinku has done well in the available opportunities for him and he showed a lot of presence of mind as a finisher as well. He is a fearless cricketer.

"It is important to have him around and if Rishabh Pant gets fit in time (for WC), then the team will have another match-winner," said Raina.

Raina also backed Sanju Samson and chose him as his leading wicketkeeper-batsman. He called Samson the X-Factor for Team India.

"Sanju has made a wonderful hundred against South Africa recently. He is definitely a captain material as his mind is ticking all the time while on the field. We have some very good options for wicketkeeper-batter role KL Rahul, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Pant whenever he comes back after getting fit."

In that context, Raina hoped Samson would come up with a good outing against the Afghans and in the IPL 2024.
"I prefer to have Sanju in the middle-order because he has a lot of shots. He plays those pick-up shots against pacers from the length. Hopefully, he performs well in the IPL too before the selectors sit down to select the team for the T20 World Cup.

So, it is a good chance for Sanju against Afghanistan, and he can be our X-Factor in the World Cup," he detailed. Ahead of the T20I series against Afghanistan, Raina said that Indian batsmen will have to put the visiting bowlers under pressure.

"India batsmen will have to attack Afghan spinners. They have quality spinners like Noor Ahmad and Abid Nabi, so it won't be easy for us. Afghanistan uses their spinners well in the Power Play.

We have Rohit, Kohli, and Gill, who plays spin very well. So, we have to attack them from the start and it will keep the Afghan bowlers under pressure," he concluded.