Ganguly Advocates for Kohli-Sharma Opening Partnership in T20 World Cup

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has advocated for Virat Kohli to open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Ganguly believes that Kohli's exceptional performance as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2024 IPL season, where he won the Orange Cap, should be replicated in the international arena.

Kohli's remarkable IPL campaign saw him amass 741 runs in 15 matches, averaging an impressive 61.75 with a century and five fifties. His highest score was an unbeaten 113, and his strike rate of 154.69 was the highest he has ever achieved in a single IPL season.

Ganguly emphasized the importance of Kohli playing with the same freedom and aggression he displayed in the second half of the IPL. He believes that Kohli's ability to dominate the opposition and score at a rapid pace will be crucial for India's success in the T20 World Cup.

"I want Virat to bat the way he did for RCB in the second half of the IPL. He has to bat with freedom. Needless to say, he is a great player, but for India to do well, Virat will have to bat with freedom like he did in the IPL," Ganguly stated.

Ganguly also praised wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who made a strong comeback to professional cricket after a serious car accident in December 2022. Pant's impressive performance in the IPL, where he scored 446 runs at an average of 40.54 and a strike rate of 155.40, has earned him Ganguly's admiration.

Ganguly highlighted Pant's unique ability to find angles on the ground and expressed confidence in the 26-year-old's potential to make a significant impact in the T20 World Cup. "He is a very special talent. His keeping is good, but his batting really special. He is capable of picking some great angles in the ground, and that's his USP. Not every player will be able to do that, you see. And that's what makes Pant very important for India," Ganguly said.

India will be eager to end their ICC trophy drought in the T20 World Cup, having last won an ICC event in 2013. The team has reached the finals and semifinals of various ICC tournaments since then but has failed to secure a major trophy. India will aim to win their first T20 World Cup title since their inaugural victory in 2007 in South Africa.

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