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Former selector picks Rohit Sharma's opening partner for India vs Pakistan match, chooses between Pant, Karthik
The former India wicketkeeper-batter picked KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma as his openers with Virat Kohli at number 3. Notably, this was India's top-three in last year's World Cup too where they failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
Who will open with Rohit Sharma? Will India continue the experiment with Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant at the top or KL Rahul will automatically get his spot back? With Virat Kohli being an automatic selection, how will Dinesh Karthik find a place in India's starting XI? There are many questions and as always the Indian think tank has problems of plenty before their opening encounter in Asia Cup 2022 against Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai. Former India selector Saba Karim was given the difficult task to choose the Indian batting unit for their Asia Cup opener against the Babar Azam-led side and Karim was pretty straightforward in his choices.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter picked KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma as his openers with Virat Kohli at number 3. Notably, this was India's top-three in last year's World Cup too where they failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
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“My top order is captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. And I’m backing experience to do well against a big team like Pakistan and also in an important tournament like Asia Cup. I can understand that Virat Kohli has struggled with form. KL Rahul, would love to see him get more runs but I still feel that both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, if they undergo 2-3 good practice sessions, I’m sure they’ll get back to form at the right time for India, Karim said on Sports18's show 'Sports Over The Top.'
Both Kohli and Rahul will be rusty. The former India captain is making a comeback after skipping the West Indies and Zimbabwe tours while Rahul, who played his first match since this year's IPL in the threee-match Zimbabwe ODI series, didn't look in great touch in the two opportunities that he got with the bat. However, both of them are class batters and have won multiple matches for India and know how to perform in the big stage.
Karim also picked Rishabh Pant over Dinesh Karthik as India's wicketkeeper-batter for the Pakistan match. “Well in my 11, I could’ve only picked 1 wicketkeeper batter, because if I’m getting in KL Rahul and Virat Kohli that leaves me with the choice of picking only one player between Dinesh Kartik and Rishabh Pant. I’ve gone ahead with Rishabh Pant because he’s such an X Factor for India and I can see him delivering some stellar performances even this Asia cup. I’m also preferring a combination which allows me to play 5 wicket-taking bowlers. On top of that, I have Hardik Pandya as my 6th bowling option. So, if I go in with this kind of combination then I don’t have space for 2 wicket keepers.”
