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Laxman wants India to go in with KL Rahul as the second opener

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Sky247 Staff
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VVS Laxman

Indian cricketer VVS Laxman wants India to open with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the upcoming T20 series against England. Rahul opened alongside Shikhar Dhawan in India’s last series against Australia as Rohit Sharma wasn’t available due to an injury. Now, with all three available, India faces a sweet opening conundrum. While Rohit Sharma is a certainty, India has to choose between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul and VVS Laxman has voiced his opinion in favour of KL Rahul.

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Laxman was asked whether Dhawan’s form in the Vijay Hazare trophy will put KL Rahul’s spot in danger to which he replied that it’s going to be a tough call but he would like to go in with KL Rahul as he has done well as an opener.

"It is going to be a tough question as far as the selection of the second opener is concerned, there is no doubt about that because Rohit Sharma is an automatic choice in white-ball cricket. But I will still go with KL Rahul because over the last few months and years, I think the Indian team management went with KL Rahul as an opening batsman and he has done really well in that position," said Laxman on Star Sports show Cricket Connect.

He admitted that Shikhar Dhawan too is in very good form but he wants to see Rohit Sharma open with KL Rahul because it looks a more settled option than Rohit-Dhawan. 

"Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup, you have to identify who your openers are going to be there in that World Cup and back them and don't chop and change. And you have someone as experienced as Shikhar Dhawan who can be the backup opener in case one of these openers, Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul, gets injured or lose their form," concluded Laxman.

KL Rahul has a phenomenal record in T20Is and has scored 1542 runs in 45 matches at an average of 44.05 and a healthy strike rate of 144.92. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma is the most successful opening pair in T20Is and have scored 1743 runs at an average of 33.51 while Rohit and Rahul has 1019 runs together at an astounding average of 59.94

Cricket News International