Virat Kohli’s blistering 92 off 47 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 has reignited the debate over his ideal batting position for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Kohli’s exceptional form in the IPL makes him a prime candidate to open for India.
“Virat’s phenomenal performances in the IPL suggest he’s well-suited to open for India in the T20 World Cup,” Ganguly said. “He’s been in tremendous form, and his ability to score quickly and consistently at the top of the order would be a huge asset for the team.”
However, Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden initially expressed reservations about Kohli opening for India. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a right-left combination at the top of the order.
“No, they shouldn’t do that,” Hayden said. “You definitely need a left-right combination at the top.”
But Hayden quickly proposed an intriguing alternative: a reshuffle in the batting order.
“If you have to make a change in that combination, I would be very happy if you would tell me if I could open with Kohli and Jaiswal, I would have said absolutely yes,” Hayden said.
Hayden suggested Kohli open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 3 and Rohit Sharma at No. 4. He highlighted Kohli’s prowess in the powerplay overs and Rohit’s success batting lower down the order.
“Look at his figures at No. 4, they are superb,” Hayden said of Rohit. “Those are better than his opening numbers.”
As the T20 World Cup approaches, the debate surrounding Kohli’s optimal batting position adds an intriguing dimension to India’s strategy and selection discussions. With opinions divided among cricketing experts, it remains to be seen where Kohli will bat for India in the tournament.
