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Virat Kohli is in great form in IPL 2024. RCB’s star player Kohli has scored 634 runs at an average of 70.44 and a strike rate of 153.51 in 12 matches as an opener. His head is adorned with an orange cap. Seeing Kohli’s superb form, many experts say that he should open the T20 World Cup 2024 alongside captain Rohit Sharma. Rohit is not much in touch now. Kohli recently played a storming innings of 92 off 47 balls against Punjab Kings, after which former Australian opener Matthew Head has given surprising advice to the Indian team management.
Hayden says T20 World Cup Virat should open the innings with young cricketer Yashshwi Jaiswal. He has advised to drop Suryakumar Yadav at number three and Rohit at number four. However, Hayden was initially not in favor of giving Kohli a chance as an opener but later took a U-turn. “I would be very happy if you have to change the combination,” Hayden told Star Sports. If you had asked me if I could have Kohli and Jaiswal as the opening pair, I would have definitely said yes. Then I would put Suryakumar Yadav at number three and Rohit at number four.
“It’s a top-4 in my opinion,” Hayden continued. This is the right combination. This is because Virat is proficient in the first six and once the power hitting comes into play, there are other great options including Rohit. Rohit’s figures at number four are superb. He is better than his opening figure.” Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has also advised Kohli to open. Ganguly said, “Virat is playing very well and should be used as an opener in the T20 World Cup. Well, if we look at his last few IPL innings, he has been amazing.
It may be noted that ‘Hitman’ Rohit has scored 3974 runs in 151 T20 international matches. He has batted from the opening position in 27 innings, scoring 481 runs with five fifties. Eight of those innings came when he batted at number four for India. He scored 188 runs at a strike rate of 122.87 with two fifties. Rohit last played in this position for India in 2022. He batted at number four in 91 innings in the IPL and added 2565 runs at a strike rate of 130. During this time he scored 20 half-centuries.