ICC MENS’ T20 WORLD CUP 2022 – TOP INDIAN PLAYERS WHO CAN REPLACE KL RAHUL AS INDIA’S OPENER
KL Rahul got a hamstring during the matches and went through a rough patch with the bat. Getting through the testing times in the past few months, the 30-year-old got in action to play his first T20I of the year in the Asia Cup.
After returning from the hamstring injury, the batter from Karnataka has scored 70 runs in 4 matches, playing at an average of 17.5. His current playing form got him much criticism from the media and fans from across the globe. Moreover, the former Sunil Gavaskar gave him warning to the Indian opener, claiming that there are many options out there in line to replace him in the upcoming matches.
With the T20 World Cup 2022 commencing from October 16, there are many opinions aired from the cricket enthusiasts and the experts about the players who can do a better job in the opening order.
In this blog, we have rounded up the cricketers who have the ability to replace Rahul as an opener in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Players Likely to Replace KL Rahul for Opening the Innings
The Indian squad is a powerhouse of potential players and the management is capable enough to make the right decision to shuffle the players in the team. Seeing the current form of KL Rahul, here are the players who can replace him for the opening innings in the World Cup:
- Virat Kohli
For opening the innings, the former Indian captain, King Kohli is the obvious name that comes to mind who has all the potential to replace Rahul at the top order. In a match against England last year, Kohli opened the innings, forming the pair with Rohit Sharma. As an opener, Kohli has a wonderful record and if he comes up, Suryakumar Yadav may come up in the 3rd position which has forte at. Kohli has scored 3000 runs at a strike rate of 134.5 when played for opening the innings for his IPL franchise.
However, in the recent years, Kohli didn’t get in groove and showed poor performances. in the Asia Cup 2022, he got a break and proved his power again which makes him a great pick at the top order in Australia. For the Indian T20Is, Kohli played as an opener 8 times and had an average of 42.5 at a strike rate of 143.
- Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant has been under eyes for his spot in the Indian T20I matches. Since the team is gearing up for the upcoming matches, there have been questions raised amongst the fans about his position to be secured in the playing XI.
In the Asia Cup 2022, his numbers weren’t of much help and there would be a tough call for the management to decide his fate in the T20 World Cup 2022.
As a middle order batter, he hasn’t been of much help for India but he can go explosive in the top order. In T20 cricket, he has owned eye-drawing figures as openers. You might be unaware of Pant’s second fastest scoring T20 century by 32 balls in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2018 when he played as an opener for Delhi.
The management of India team thought to launch him at the top of the order against England for two matches but the southpaw disappointed, leaving the pitch early as per latest cricket updates. Though Rahul hasn’t been in form but there are chances of him getting to play as an opener in Australia upcoming matches.
India T20 World Cup 2022 Squad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the squad for India on September 12.
| Player | Playing Role |
| Rohit Sharma (c) | Batter |
| KL Rahul | Batter |
| Virat Kohli | Batter |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Batter |
| Deepak Hooda | All Rounder |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicket Keeper Batsman |
| Dinesh Karthik | Wicket Keeper Batsman |
| Hardik Pandya | All Rounder |
| Ravi Ashwin | Bowler |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | Bowler |
| Axar Patel | All Rounder |
| Mohd Siraj | Bowler |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler |
| Harshal Patel | Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
Reserve
| Player | Role |
| Mohammed Shami | Bowler |
| Shreyas Iyer | Batsman |
| Deepak Chahar | Bowler |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler |
While India will lock horns with their arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23, 2022, here is the squad for Pak:
Pakistan Squad
To play in the T20 world cup 2022, the squad for Pakistan is announced. Babar Azam will lead the team and Shadab Khan will act as deputy. Notable addition is Shaheen Afridi, who got injured just before the Asia Cup and was ruled out. Fakhar Zaman, who played the last tournament has been left out of main 15 and added as a reserve.
| Player | Role |
| Babar Azam (c) | Batsman |
| Shadab Khan (vc) | All Rounder |
| Asif Ali | Batsman |
| Haider Ali | Batsman |
| Haris Rauf | Bowler |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | All Rounder |
| Khushdil Shah | Batsman |
| Mohammad Hasnain | Bowler |
| Mohammad Nawaz | All Rounder |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Wicket Keeper Batsman |
| Mohammad Wasim | All Rounder |
| Naseem Shah | Bowler |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Bowler |
| Shan Masood | Batsman |
| Usman Qadir | Bowler |
Reserve
| Player | Role |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batsman |
| Mohammad Haris | Batsman |
| Shahnawaz Dahani | Bowler |
For the latest cricket updates about the T20 World Cup 2022, follow CBTF Speed News!
Also Read: Icc Wt20 Title Winner Tips By Amit Majithia
