IND vs ENG 1st T20I: Team India captain Virat Kohli confirms India's opening pair

The T20 season is just about to begin which will again bring the group of people who are interested in short-format cricket. The test series attracted attention due to the pitch controversies and the brilliance of the spinners, Ashwin and Axar. The India vs England T20I series will start on 12 March and it will be a 5 match series, then the ODI series will start. This series will serve as a breeding ground for the T20 World Cup scheduled in India. For the England team, the T20 World Cup will be a top priority along with Ashes at the end of the year. It is expected that they will play the full IPL this year.

ENG v IND: Virat confirms the openers for the 1st T20I

The captain Virat Kohli looked confident ahead of the England vs India 1st T20I match. The openers have been confirmed by the captain during the press conference. “It’s quite simple, KL and Rohit have been performing at the top of the order for us and those two would start,” said Kohli in a pre-match press conference.

“And if Rohit takes rest or Kl has a niggle or something Shikki (Shikhar Dhawan) obviously comes back as a third opener. The starting composition, Rohit and Rahul will start,” Kohli added.

“No, England will be the team to beat. They’re the number 1 side in the world. Prime focus will be on them. All other teams will be wary of the strengths they bring to the park. Every other team will agree with what I’m saying,” Kohli on asked whether Indian will be favourites for the T20 World Cup.

Related: IND vs ENG 1st T20I preview

ENG vs IND: Morgan on T20I series and T20 World Cup

England team Captain Eoin Morgan spoke on the eve of IND vs ENG 1st T20I at Motera. “We’ve been in great form in T20 cricket, we’ve had some confidence along the way and picked up some serious wins over the last year and a half, two years which is great,” Morgan said. “But also we need to develop our game and go into a World Cup with as few weaknesses as possible. I think having the strongest squad available to us, which doesn’t really happen that often, allows us to play around with any plans we might foresee using in the World Cup as well.

“I think it will change as the conditions change,” Morgan said of England’s approach. “Obviously we’re playing five games on the same ground. We don’t know yet if we’re playing on the same surfaces twice or a number of times. But I imagine it will evolve as we see it. Game on the game, if we think of anything that might arise down the line that we think is worth running through or simulating here, we’ll do it.” Morgan added.

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