Skipper Virat Kohli expects India to play more freely after inclusion of fresh faces provide more depth to the batting unit for the five-match T20I series against England starting today at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera
Skipper Virat Kohli during India’s practice session at Ahmedabad recently. Pic/PTI; (right) Mumbai boy Suryakumar Yadav posted the above pic wearing India Blue on Twitter. He is likely to make a much-awaited debut in the T20 series against England
India skipper Virat Kohli expects his team to play much more freely in the five-match T20 series against England as the infusion of fresh blood has provided much-needed “x-factor and depth” to the batting unit, which it lacked in the past.
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The selectors have picked IPL performers like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia for the England series while the in-form Rishabh Pant has made a comeback.
‘Most balanced squad’
With the IPL yet to be played, Kohli feels another fresh face or two may sneak into the squad ahead of the T20 World Cup at home in October but finds the current side full of balance and options.
“We have played with a certain kind of pattern in the past. We did not have a big tournament to work towards in the past. If you look at the squad, the additions we have made, we have tried to address a few things we needed in specific,” Kohli said on the eve of the game referring to the likes of Suryakumar and Kishan.
“Guys who can be x-factors with the bat and do things which are the need of the hour in T20 cricket. These guys have done so on a regular basis in the IPL so we have tried to cover all those basis. Now it will be interesting to see how they go about in these five games.”
Having not had enough options in the past, Kohli is happy with what he has at his disposal now. “These are the only five games we have as a team before the World Cup and we want to see how these guys fare in the middle. I feel the squad right now we have barring Jaddu, who will come back whenever fit, is the most balanced in terms of the options available to take the field as and when required.”
Sundar is first choice
Kohli also made it clear that R Ashwin will not be in the white-ball scheme of things till Washington Sundar is performing. “Washington has been doing really well for us. So you cannot have two players of the same discipline, playing in one spot. So [this will not happen] unless Washy has drastically horrible season and things go south for him,” Kohli said about the young all-rounder. Meanwhile, Kohli said that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will be the team’s opening combination in T20 cricket.
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