Parthiv Patel opines that the opening slot experiment is to fit Virat Kohli in the playing XI

Former India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel propounded that the opener experiment is happening to fit Virat Kohli in the playing XI. He said that these are all happening to play Virat Kohli. Patel said to Cricbuzz that he expected Virat Kohli to play the series.

He stressed that Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill banked runs only by playing the ODI series. He added that Kohli could have scored a run-a-ball century had he played. Patel also said that for a player of his class, coming back to form would be easy by playing the ODIs.

“I definitely would have (liked to see him in T20Is). I would have liked to see him play the one-day series. It is an easier option of coming back to form. There are fifty overs, there's a lot of time. Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill came back to run-scoring with almost a run-a-ball. He is a legend of the game,” Patel said.

“And all these changes we are seeing in the opening order, that's happening because they want to try and fit in Virat Kohli in that XI. That's the reason we are seeing Surya and Rishabh Pant opening. That's something I feel,” Patel added.

Virat Kohli is rested for the entire West Indies series after his poor performance in England. He succumbed to less than 20 runs in all the four white-ball innings he played against them. Virat has put himself under a cloud and has yet to break out of it. The batter seems out of touch for a while now and is on a complete break from the sport.

India won the first T20I against West Indies by 68 runs. Rohit Sharma displayed fireworks with 64 runs off just 44 balls. Dinesh Karthik, on the other hand, powered India to 190 with his unbeaten 41 off 19 balls. West Indies surrendered and was able to score just 122 in 20 overs.

Shamarh Brooks top scored with 20 runs. West Indies tumbled after the first wicket. Kyle Mayers tried to pull a short ball of Arshdeep Singh and it ended in a top-edge. Arshdeep Singh completely deceived Mayers and the collapse started from there on. India will take on West Indies for the second T20I of the series on August 1.