I think Virat Kohli will open in Asia Cup: Parthiv Patel

Virat Kohli’s lean patch with the bat has been an unsolved problem for India throughout this year and it only seems to be putting them in a spot of bother heading into the Asia Cup 2022 later this month. Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper-batter and Kohli’s RCB teammate Parthiv Patel reckons that the batting icon might open the innings in the Asia Cup.

India have tried a couple of experiments in their opening slot by promoting Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav up the batting order and now, Parthiv is confident that a returning Kohli will open the innings in the upcoming tournament. The 33-year-old has opened the innings for RCB as well as the Men in Blue in the past.

I’m sticking to my word: Parthiv Patel

“Not for one game only (Rishabh Pant opening). I’m sticking to my word. I think Virat Kohli will open in Asia Cup. I just feel he will,” said Patel as quoted by Cricket Next.

Virat has so far opened the innings for India in eight T20Is. The last time he opened the innings for the Men in Blue was during the home T20I series against England in March last year.

This happened during the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad where Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were involved in a 94-run opening stand. Kohli scored a blistering unbeaten 80 runs off 52 deliveries as India posted a mammoth total of 224/2 and went on to register a 36-run win to seal the series.

As of now, all eyes will be on India’s ex-skipper’s form as he is likely to return for Asia Cup 2022 opening fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan on August 28. He would be expected to make his bat do the talking against the Men in Green’s lethal bowling lineup especially in-form left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi.

As of now, the batting megastar has been rested. He did not feature in the just-concluded limited-overs series against the West Indies and will not be a part of the Indian squad for the three One Day Internationals in Zimbabwe starting August 18.