Virat Kohli confirms Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will open for Team India in 1st T20I against England on March 12

Team India captain Virat Kohli on Thursday confirmed that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will open the batting for his team in the upcoming first T20 international against England in Ahmedabad.

Rohit has been in red-hot form with the bat and was India's highest scorer in the recent Test series against England with 345 runs from 4 matches at 57.50.

Rahul on the other hand, hasn't played any cricket for India since the third T20I against Australia in December last year in Sydney. Shikhar Dhawan is India's third opening batsman will be warming the bench in the series-opener on March 12.

"If Rohit (Sharma) plays, it’s simple. KL (Rahul) and Rohit have done well for us consistently. If either of them take rest, Shikhar is the third opener. Rohit and Rahul will start against England,"



Kohli said in the pre-match press conference.

Kohli also said that Team India will be looking to play "free cricket" against England in the upcoming T20s.

"We want to play free cricket, we have explosive batsmen in the team now. That's exactly what we are trying to address. This time around you will see players bat more freely. I see us being much more free with our approach from this series onwards," Kohli said.

Notably, Kohli said England will be the favourites to lift the T20 World Cup in India this year.

"No, I think England are favourites. They are the No 1 side in the world, all teams will be wary of their strengths," Kohlis said.

All the five T20Is between India and England will be played in Ahmedabad while the 3 ODIs will be played in Pune from March 23.