Asia Cup 2022: 'Virat Kohli Walks Into India XI, But Time Has Come For Selectors To Decide...': Former Selector Gives Verdict On No.3 Debate

Despite his protracted slump, Virat Kohli is still one of the top players in the game of cricket. The top batter’s lack of a century since 2019 has sparked a heated public discussion over his future with the national team.

While some think Kohli needs a long rest to rediscover his mojo, others think the Indian should play often, particularly with the World T20 less than three months away. 

Deepak Hooda has taken advantage of the few chances he has had, scoring a T20 century while Kohli is having a terrible time with the bat. Shreyas Iyer, who has been inconsistent recently while competing for the No. 3 batting berth, is also still in the running.

Time For Selectors To Decide Virat Kohli’s Back-up: Saba Karim

Former national selector Saba Karim thinks Kohli will start at No. 3 and that Hooda or Iyer will develop into backup candidates for the position. 

“When Virat Kohli is available, he will naturally walk into the XI at No. 3. But the time has come for the selectors to decide who they want as a backup batter in the middle order. If they believe in Shreyas Iyer, then they should continue to play him and hope he gets back to his form.

But if they are still experimenting, then it’s the right time to play Hooda at No. 3. He can also be handy with the ball, which is a huge plus for Team India,” he said on India News Sports. 

Virat Kohli Will Remain In His Original No.3 Place In The Team: Wasim Jaffer

Although Kohli is probably going to return for the Asia Cup, it is still unclear whether the team management would give Hooda or Iyer a chance. Even if both are selected for the competition, their prospects of making the starting eleven now appear slim. 

Wasim Jaffer, a former batter, had already backed Kohli in his bid to reclaim the No. 3 slot after joining the Indian team. Despite his subpar performance, Jaffer placed Kohli in the top three and chose Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as his two openers. 

“Virat will remain in his original No. 3 place in the team. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma should open, and other players like Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan can contribute significantly to the squad.

I feel that the aggressive approach that India has undertaken is very nice to witness. India’s chances of winning (T20 World Cup) are bright,” Jaffer stated during the audio portion of the Sharechat app’s “CricChat Powered by Parimatch” session. 

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