Jaipur, Nov 16 (UNI) Team India T20Is skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday said his predecessor Virat Kohli will continue to play the role of a top order batsman and continue to give sterling performances.

"It is very simple, What he has been doing for the team. He will continue to play the role which he has been all these years. He is a very important player for the team. Whenever he plays, he leaves behind an impact and his mark," he told reporters at a pre-match press conference here.

India take on New Zealand tomorrow in their first T20I match. Rohit, for the first time, will don the full-time captain of Team India after Kohli had relinquished the post in shorter format of the game after ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.

Rohit also said the players are open to changing roles depending on circumstances.

"Obviously, when we play the game, everybody has his own role to play. When you are batting first, your role is different and batting second, the role is different. So based on the teams that we are playing, roles will keep changing and everyone is open to that and I am sure when Virat comes back it can only strengthen our team because of the experience and the kind of a batsman he is. It is going to add up to our squad," he said.

Replying to a query, Rohit said India will not follow the template of other teams, but do what suits the team best.

"There are holes we need to fill up. That will be the biggest challenge for us. I am not going to say that we are going to follow other teams' templates. We will do what suits us best. The players play a different role in Syed Mushtaq Ali franchises and in the national team. We need to define specific roles for players," he said.

Rohit said he will allow players to play fearlessly. I think it's one of the important aspects of the format where people have the assurance and go and take their chances. If it comes off great if not no problem. Our role will be crucial in letting people play fearlessly. We need to give them assurance," he added.

UNI BDN