Veteran Indian opener Rohit Sharma has not featured in the first two of the ongoing five-match Twenty20 International series against England, despite skipper Virat Kohli confirmed he is the first-choice opener ahead of the first encounter on Friday.

This came as a big surprise to a number of fans and experts alike, given that ‘The Hitman’ has been one of India’s most in-form batsmen recently, albeit in the longest format of the game.

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Rohit was the second-highest run-scorer in the recently-concluded Test series against England with 345 runs from seven innings at an average of 57.50, behind only England skipper Joe Root (368). 

India went with the combination of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan in the first T20I, where the openers scored a combined five runs from 16 deliveries. 

In the second T20I, skipper Kohli replaced Dhawan with young southpaw Ishan Kishan, who went on to score a half-century on debut, but Rahul disappointed again, registering a duck. 

The team’s struggles at the top of the order calls for Rohit’s experience and flair as an opener, but Kohli said the Mumbai Indians skipper is “resting” for the first couple of matches. 

“The next few months will be important for the team environment. Rohit is resting for the first couple of games,” Kohli said at the toss ahead of the first game. 

Rohit hasn’t featured in a T20I since February last year. 

The decision to further extend his long-awaited return bewildered many experts, with former opener Virender Sehwag questioning Kohli’s decision to rest other players. 

“It was said that Rohit Sharma will take a break in a couple of matches, but does this rule apply for Virat Kohli as well. As a captain, I don’t think he comes and says that I will take a break for the next two or three matches,” Sehwag said on the Cricbuzz Live show.