Get Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli out, half of the Indian team is finished: Former Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan

Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan reckons if a team can dismiss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early in the innings then half of the Indian team is finished. It is well known that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two of India’s best batters.

Kohli recently returned back to form in the Asia Cup as he scored a majestic knock of 122 runs off just 61 balls. The talisman scored 276 runs in five matches at an average of 92 and a strike rate of 147.39 in the multi-team tournament.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma scored a fine knock of 72 runs off just 41 balls against Sri Lanka in the Super Four contest but his efforts had gone in vain. Many cricket experts reckon that Rohit and Virat should open the innings in the T20 World Cup.

Both of these batters have all the experience under their belt and it is impossible for the opposition to put the brakes on them if they get going. On the other hand, India has batters like KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, who have all done a decent job in the T20 format.

“Whenever we played against India, our plan used to be around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. We used to say ‘get them out, half of Indian team is finished’. The whole world plans against these two big players like this only. They can win matches single-handedly. Our plan was always to attack them in the beginning, because if we can’t get them out in the beginning, then it is very difficult to trouble them. Especially Virat Kohli. He is a very busy player. When he is set, it is very difficult to dislodge him. We used to believe that if we get both of them out early, then about 100-120 runs would be less from India’s total in an ODI and about 60-70 runs in a T20I,” Afghan was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Afghan added that India was the best team on paper in the Asia Cup but an injury to Ravindra Jadeja was a big blow for the team.

“On paper, they were the best team to win the Asia Cup. The kind of balance they had was great. But perhaps they took things a little lightly but the main reason for their losses in the Super 4 stage was the injury to Ravindra Jadeja. It really affected the balance of their side,” he added.

India will look to come up with a collective effort in the T20 World Cup but Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will hold the key for them in Australia.