Virat Kohli Opening India’s Batting At Cricket’s T20 World Cup Is The Right Move, Says Ravi Shastri

Based in New York for the early stages of the T20 World Cup, well away from the cauldron of home, India have somewhat escaped the intensity and frenzy that usually follows their every move.

With a World Cup for the first time played outside of traditional cricket terrain, India – the title favorites and undisputed powerhouse off-field – have been able to start this tournament amid quieter surroundings as they look to finally end a frustrating decade-long title drought.

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But scrutiny is never far away from India, with much focus on their decision to elevate superstar Virat Kohli to open alongside long-time teammate and captain Rohit Sharma.

Coming off a superb Indian Premier League, where he led the scoring charts as an opener but Royal Challengers Bangalore again fell short, Kohli made just 1 off 5 balls in India’s big victory over Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener at the Nassau County Stadium in Eisenhower Park.

Kohli has batted at his customary No.3 position in 80 of his 110 T20I innings, averaging a remarkable 53.96 and striking at 135.26. His promotion has led to some uproar with designated hard-hitting opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, the 22-year-old Next Gen of Indian cricket, dropped amid the reshuffle.

The hierarchy’s decision has polarized amid the volcanic Indian cricket punditry. But influential former India player and coach Ravi Shastri, a high-profile broadcaster these days, is not buying into the criticism.

“Not at all,” a typically blunt Shastri said when I asked him in a phone interview if the decision was contentious. “I think it’s your best players who are at the top, you need experience, you need technique.”

The re-jig has meant that explosive wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant can bat at No.3 and allows room for left-handed Shivam Dube, who can provide the type of spark that felt lacking in India’s tepid showing at the last T20 World Cup in 2022.

“With two of your most experienced and best white ball players at the top, it gives balance and allows you to be flexible in that middle order…plenty of left-handers and a lot of depth as well,” Shastri said.

India next plays arch-rival Pakistan on Sunday in New York in the tournament’s most anticipated match. It is arguably the most hyped match in cricket history given the grandiose location, where the sport’s administrators have long sought to hold marquee events.

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Anticipation is always high for India and Pakistan, who rarely play each other on the cricket field due to political differences. Thus tournament organizers milk the money-spinning contest which has been watched previously by a viewership of 300-500 million.

It’s been the hottest ticket of the tournament, with resale tickets offered at exorbitant prices. The match is financially crucial for the investment of the 34,000-seat modular stadium in Long Island, which took four months to be constructed and cost $30 million as I first reported.

Officials are confident the investment can be recouped through ticketing and hospitality – mostly through the India-Pakistan fixture which is expected to generate around $15 million at the gate.

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With India and Pakistan heavy favorites to progress from Group A, the match appeared to have little stakes despite its blockbuster status.

But that has all changed after Pakistan lost to the U.S. in Dallas in one of cricket’s biggest upsets. The bloodletting has already begun in Pakistan, which has a devoted but tempestuous cricket following.

Written off and lambasted by all, Pakistan have in the past been able to turn things around to underline their status as cricket’s most baffling but entertaining team. They loom as a particularly dangerous opponent for India, who have dominated the rivalry at major events.

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“Pakistan are predictable, but they are dangerous. They will be hurting,” Shastri said. “India can’t drop their guard. It’s a very, very important game.

“This is the big daddy, grandfather of all matches.”

There is an unknown over how the drop-in pitch at Nassau County Stadium will behave after matches there have been marred by ridicously low scores. Critics have labeled it as ‘dangerous’ and the authorities have been forced into damage control, although the surface has played better in the last two matches on the ground.

“I thought it played much better (in Thursday’s match between Canada and Ireland),” Shastri said after Canada caused a 12-run upset having posted 137 for 7. “They shaved quite a bit of grass and it (the pitch) has been rolled. I think if it settles in that fashion, you can get scores of around 150-160.

“I think you’ll see some good progress. It’s challenging for the batsmen, there’s no question about that (especially with games) starting at 10.30am but it provides some interesting cricket as well.”

Having been in the hot seat of India, at the helm during a successful period of 2017-21 albeit fruitless at World Cups, Shastri has experienced the suffocating pressure that has seemingly crippled the team at big moments.

With Kohli and Rohit probably playing in their final World Cup, India have the weight of expectation on their back with anything other than a title deemed a failure.

“The pressure is there, but I think they’ve learned and they have got to be fearless,” Shastri said. “For that you need the right balance. You need the exuberance of youth. And then you need the experience, which India has.

“There’s a great mix of left-handers and right-handers. And there’s variety in the bowling attack.

“So one game at a time, and then you take it from there.”

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Shastri is an ambassador for the DP World’s Beyond Boundaries Initiative, aimed at empowering communities through improved access to cricket.

Along with legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Shastri on Friday distributed kits in Manhattan to beneficiaries from the Public Schools Athletic League and the Commonwealth Cricket League, helping build foundations at the American cricket grassroots level.

“I did a function last year in Chennai and it (the initiative) was received magnificently,” Shastri said. “It’s helping cricketers at the grassroots level …to help them play the game and develop the game in the long run.

“DP World has been doing it for some time and it’s a fantastic initiative.”