Former Indian left-arm orthodox spinner Murali Kartik believes KKR should open the innings with Tim Seifert and Finn Allen and captain Ajinkya Rahane should bat at number three. So far in the first three games, Allen and Rahane have opened the innings for KKR, whereas Seifert hasn’t yet got his chances.

Seifert and Allen had done a decent job for New Zealand in the T20 World Cup and have the experience of opening together. Kartik said he doesn’t see Cameron Green performing up to the mark after mundane performances so far.

The Australian all-rounder did not bowl in the first two games of the tournament but it has been reported that he is expected to bowl against LSG on Thursday.

“I will make a change, I have been saying this right from the start that Finn Allen and Tim Seifert should open the innings together, and Ajinkya Rahane can bat at No.3. I am not seeing anything coming from Cameron Green, to be very honest. He is not even bowling. You have a settled opening pair who know each other really well, and if they can start well on the good Kolkata surface, then that would be great,” Murali Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, Kartik wants Rishabh Pant to keep batting at one drop for LSG. Pant had opened the innings against DC in the opening game but scored a match-winning knock of 68 runs off 50 balls against SRH in the previous match while batting at number three.

“The most important thing for Lucknow was that their original opening pair returned, and the position that Rishabh Pant is currently playing in, please stay there. The player to watch out for me would be Bison (Mitchell Marsh), and Finn Allen,” Murali Kartik concluded.

KKR will host LSG at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Thursday.