India Playing XI: Rohit-Ishan to open, Bishnoi makes debut

India Playing XI 1st T20: Ravi Bishnoi makes debut – With T20 World Cup just eight months away, Rohit Sharma has already begun experimenting with his side, beginning with Harshal Patel and Venkatesh Iyer in the NZ series. On Wednesday, India handed debut to another in Ravi Bishnoi to continue the experimentation. However, India stuck to Ishan Kishan as Rohit’s opening partner, sending Ruturaj Gaikwad to the bench once again. Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.

With Rohit Sharma back and KL Rahul out, Team India had an opening conundrum — who will open with Rohit. India had two options in Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad. While Ishan has got his chances, Ruturaj has only warmed the bench since playing two T20s in Sri Lanka.

India Playing XI 1st T20: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan to OPEN India’s innings, Gaikwad again to ‘WARM BENCH’: Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 LIVE Updates

As InsideSport reported earlier, Rohit Sharma continued his trust in Ishan Kishan instead of IPL 2021 Orange Cap holder Ruturaj Gaikwad.

“The idea is to identify the players who are going to play the World Cup and give them the game time,” Rohit Sharma declared ahead of 1st T20.

“There are a lot of players who are injured and not with the team. Come the World Cup, I don’t know who’s going to be fit and who’s not going to be fit, but we’ve just got to get the back-ups ready. We have a packed schedule and injuries will happen. It’s important we give players enough game time keeping everything in mind.”

India Playing XI 1st T20: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan to OPEN India’s innings, Gaikwad again to ‘WARM BENCH’: Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 LIVE Updates

India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal

A look at #TeamIndia‘s Playing XI for the 1st T20I.

Live – https://t.co/jezs509AGi #INDvWI @Paytm pic.twitter.com/fVcRhT8fC8

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2022

Also Read: IND vs WI LIVE, 1st T20I: Who will open – Ishan Kishan or Ruturaj Gaikwad? Vikram Rathour tight-lipped on opening choice against West Indies- check out

India Playing XI 1st T20: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan to OPEN India’s innings, Gaikwad again to ‘WARM BENCH’: Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 LIVE Updates

Who will open with Rohit Sharma? Ishan Kishan
Will Ruturaj Gaikwad and Avesh Khan warm the bench? YES
What will be the bowling combination? Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar & Bhuvneshwar Kumar will three pacers, Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal two spinners

India Playing XI 1st T20: Opening conundrum remains, will Rohit Sharma hand debut to Ravi Bishnoi? Follow Live Updates

Also Read: IND vs WI T20 series: Kieron Pollard & Co search of maiden series win but Rohit Sharma’s India favourites- Follow LIVE updates

Who will open with Rohit Sharma? – The three-match T20 series will be a testing phase for Team India with T20 World Cup 2022 in sight. India did try a few combinations in the New Zealand series but the unavailability of players did not help them test all the possibilities. With KL Rahul absent with injury, India will have to find an opening partner.

The two options India have are Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad. In the past, Rohit trusted Ishan Kishan. Despite Ruturaj’s red-hot form, he was once again sent to the bench.

How long will Ruturaj & Avesh Khan warm the bench? – With both missing from the Playing XI of 1st T20, they will have to longer.

The two have been part of Team India but apart from two matches for Ruturaj in Sri Lanka, they haven’t been utilised. If Ruturaj Gaikwad finished IPL 2021 with Orange cap and top-scorer of Vijay Hazare Trophy, Avesh Khan bagged 24 wickets in 16 matches in IPL 2021.

Avesh Khan will have competition from Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj while the team management decides on the bowling combination.

Thank you, Ahmedabad! 👍 👏

Hello, Kolkata! 👋 👋#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @Paytm pic.twitter.com/A2Me4sfiiz

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2022

India Playing XI 1st T20: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan to OPEN India’s innings, Gaikwad again to ‘WARM BENCH’: Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 LIVE Updates

Also Read: West Indies Playing XI, 1st T20: Kieron Pollard’s return to boost WI against favourites Team India—Follow IND vs WI LIVE

What will be the bowling combination? Despite the absence of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, India have a rich bowling unit.

While Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be an automatic choice considering the selectors want to see if he can bounce back, Rohit Sharma preferred Deepak Chahar and Harshal Patel as his partners. Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal both leg-spinners made it to the Playing XI.

With Washington Sundar also ruled out due to injury, Venkatesh Iyer got the nod while Rohit Sharma.

Also Read: IND vs WI T20: Bad luck strikes Washington Sundar once again, ruled out of WI T20 and Sri Lanka series with hamstring injury

India Playing XI 1st T20: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan to OPEN India’s innings, Gaikwad again to ‘WARM BENCH’: Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 LIVE Updates

India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda.

India Playing XI 1st T20: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan to OPEN India’s innings, Gaikwad again to ‘WARM BENCH’: Follow IND vs WI 1st T20 LIVE Updates

Cricket