IND vs AUS: There's No Way That Virat Kohli Has To Open The Batting, He Has To Bat At No. 3 In T20Is – Matthew Hayden

Former Australia National Cricket Team player Matthew Hayden has said that there is no need for the modern-day batting great Virat Kohli to open the innings in T20Is and he should be batting at the No.3 position.

The debates about Kohli taking over the opening role alongside India captain Rohit Sharma in T20Is started after the poor run of form of the India vice-captain KL Rahul since his return from an injury. In the recently concluded, Asia Cup 2022, he scored just 132 runs in five matches at a poor strike rate of 122.22.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli was in terrific form in the Asia Cup 2022. He opened the innings with Rahul in the Super 4 game against Afghanistan in the absence of Rohit Sharma and smashed an exceptional century. Overall, he scored 276 runs in five matches at a brilliant strike rate of 147.59.

Speaking in a virtual press conference organized by Star Sports, as quoted by NDTV, the former Australian opener Matthew Hayden said:

“And this great debate around Virat batting up, GG (Gambhir) and I have already had this over the last couple of days, there’s no way that he has to open the batting, he has to bat at number 3, simple as that. And again, it’s another one of those things that you don’t want to let the door open the discussion on this.”

Just let the batting order rely on its own form and Virat Kohli can handle the situation – Matthew Hayden

Hayden, who is going to be Pakistan’s mentor in the T20 World Cup 2022, further said that there should not be extra pressure on the openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul heading into the World Cup and they should be allowed to play freely.

“You don’t want to have a doubt, you don’t want to have KL Rahul in the masterful form that he’s been in of late and Rohit Sharma who is captain of the team thinking ‘I’ve got to kind of watch my spot here that you know I’m an opening batsmen and my job is to play with freedom’ and unfortunately, when you start having these debates and you start thinking ‘oh maybe he, for his game, it should be him opening’, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to entertain that and put pressure. 

“The one thing that you want to alleviate in the World Cup is the pressure. Just let the batting order rely on its own form and Virat Kohli can handle the situation. He’s a world-class player, he can bat at three and he should bat at three in my opinion.”

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2022: India Captain Rohit Sharma Breaks The Silence On Virat Kohli Opening; Says “Definitely An Option For Us”

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