Matthew Hayden doesn’t think Virat Kohli should be selected for the Indian team if he doesn’t open for the T20 World Cup in 2024. Virat was in magnificent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and it isn’t yet affirmed which role he will play for India for the T20 World Cup as an opener or batting at No. 3.
Role Dilemma: Virat Kohli’s Place in the Indian Team Questioned
India’s marquee player Virat Kohli has repeatedly seen his place in the team being questioned in front of the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Virat was in magnificent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and it isn’t yet affirmed which role he will play for India in the T20 World Cup.
Virat doesn’t warrant a spot on his team for Matthew Hayden, except if he chooses to open. As of now, both Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal are viewing for the subsequent opener’s spot in the Indian team. Both have great batting skills. According to Matthew Hayden, Virat Kohli should play as an opener in the T20 World Cup.
“You must have a left-right combination. You can’t have five right-handers in a row. Australia would simply agree that welcome to Zampa. Kohli needs to open, or he won’t play on my team. He is in absolutely red-hot form,” Matthew Hayden said on ESPNcricinfo.
Also Read: India’s Experiment with Samson as Opener Fails in Warm-up Match
Rohit Sharma’s Versatility: Potential Shift to Middle Order
The Australian legend also floated the possibility of Rohit Sharma batting in the middle order. Matthew Hayden has a plan to shift Rohit Sharma to the middle order. According to him, it has great potential to shift their batting number. As far as we know, he is a very flexible player. He can easily bat in the middle order.
“Rohit Sharma is a flexible player and doesn’t avoid batting endlessly in that middle order. He has a successful record in T20I cricket batting at No. 4, and he can lead the batting group from the early middle order,” he added.
Matthew Hayden isn’t the first to recommend to the India skipper a change in role, yet it doesn’t seem as though the hitman is in the frame of mind to do so.
Suresh Raina’s View: Backing Virat Kohli for No. 3 Position
Prior, former India hitter Suresh Raina had backed Virat to play the No. 3 role in the T20 World Cup. Suresh Raina is in favor of Virat Kohli playing at No. 3 in the T20 World Cup 2024. According to Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli scored very well in the No. 3 position.
“I favor Virat to play at No. 3 in the T20 World Cup. He’s a run machine. Yashasvi is in great form, and I’m certain he will truly do well as an opener. With the pitches and conditions in the US expected to be slow, as I would see it, Virat ought to play at No. 3,” Raina had told reporters during an event in Delhi.
Also Read: India’s T20 World Cup 2024 Warm-up: Crafting the Perfect Combination
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