While Virat Kohli has been delivering consistently with the bat, his strike rate as well as his batting position has been a major talking point for all the wrong reasons.
Many believe that the right-handed batsman should stop batting at number three for India in T20Is and open the innings like he does in the IPL. There is a view that Virat Kohli is not the kind of player who can attack right from the word go and opening the innings will give him ample time to settle down before shifting gears.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma told to follow MS Dhoni’s footsteps to help India win the ICC event
Recently, former West Indies captain Brian Lara also came up with a similar suggestion, saying that India should find a way to make Suryakumar Yadav bat at number three in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also wants Virat Kohli to open the innings. And former Australia captains Tim Paine and Aaron Finch have also shared their views on the same.
Tim Paine and Aaron Finch on Virat Kohli’s batting position:
Speaking on ‘Around the Wicket’ podcast, Paine said that Virat Kohli should be opening the innings for India in the shortest format of the game. The former Australia Test captain also said that the India superstar has earned the right to bat at any position before saying that Kohli should be facing as many balls as possible.
“I certainly would [have Kohli open]. I think Virat Kohli has earned the right to bat wherever he wants, particularly when he’s in this kind of form. Virat is an experienced player and I’m sure they will be having conversations but whether he bats one, two or three will worry him too much.
“Having said that if I was the selection or coach in that team, I would want my best player, the best player in red-hot form, I would want him facing as many balls as possible so I’ll try and slot him back at the top,” Paine said.
Aaron Finch, however, had a different opinion. The former Australia limited-overs captain said that it would be better for India if Kohli continued to bat at number three. The T20 World Cup-winning captain said that Kohli’s batting at number three gives India stability. He also said that Yashasvi Jaiswal would be a better bet as an opener because he can give the team fast starts in the T20 World Cup.
“There was so much talk around it at the start of the tournament. Will he be in the World Cup squad so to be able to put that aside and go out there and do his job… like you said striking at 155 is the highest he has struck in throughout his career so it’s a great point. He is just a brilliant player. I love watching him play. The way that he dissects a run chase is extraordinary. But I would still keep him at 3,” said Finch.
“I think the stability of him at three just creates an environment for everybody else around to play their natural game. And you’ve got Jaiswal who can hit them out of the park. He can give them a flyer. I am just not sure whether Virat and Rohit at the top would create that dynamic approach that you need in West Indies,” he added.
Leave feedback about this