“Opening is very important in T20Is” - Indian World Cup winner opens up on the opening pair for Asia Cup 2025

Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has opened up on the new opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 campaign, which is set to be played on Tuesday, September 9, in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking exclusively on ANI, the World Cup-winning cricketer felt that both Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill have a strike rate of more than 150, which is very important for openers in the shortest format of the game.

"I'm satisfied because it should have been done. Abhishek Sharma's strike rate is more than 225, and Shubman Gill's strike rate is more than 150. Opening is very important in T20Is. In the first six overs, the openers set the game. Then, after that, you have to ensure that your average is around 7, 8, or 9 and continue until the 14th or 16th over. In the last three to four overs, you have a big hitter like Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel," Madan Lal told ANI.

Moreover, Madan Lal also asserted that spinners would play a crucial role on the UAE wickets, adding that Team India has the best spinners in the world and they can be very lethal in these conditions.

"It's very hot here. Spinner's role will always be more crucial here. It's very hot, but the thing is to get the breakthrough early on, and then the spinner comes in. We have the best spinner in the world. If we get a breakthrough in the beginning, then the spinners can be very lethal, and they can do a wonderful job. Spinners will play a big role. Afghanistan has four spinners and Pakistan has three. Most of the countries depend on the spinners," he added.

India’s squad for Asia Cup: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Sing.

Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel.

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