IND vs IRE: Virat Kohli or Yashasvi Jaiswal? Aaron Finch delivers a no-nonsense verdict on Rohit Sharma's opening partner

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch stated that Indian batter Virat Kohli should not open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup 2024. Aaron Finch backed Yashasvi Jaiswal's inclusion in India's lineup for the ICC tournament, considering his aggressive approach from the start.

The India cricket team played their lone warm-up match against the Bangladesh cricket team at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday, June 1. The Men in Blue secured a comfortable 60-run victory to boost their confidence ahead of their World Cup opener against Ireland.

Rohit Sharma opened the batting with Sanju Samson, who managed to score just one run off six balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal didn't bat in the match despite being a regular member since his T20I debut. The team management hinted that Jaiswal might not be in the scheme of things for their first match in the World Cup.

The team might consider opening with Virat Kohli in upcoming matches. If Virat opens the batting, both Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube can be included in the playing XI. Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav are likely to bat in the middle order. Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel will bat at No. 7 as a bowling all-rounder.

India Have Got A Very Good Side - Aaron Finch

Speaking on The Grade Cricketer podcast, Aaron Finch stated that India has a very good side. He added that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma will provide a strong start. Finch said that Virat Kohli can bat long into the innings at a high strike rate.

“Say it is a 180-style tournament, then India have got a very good side for it. (Kohli) can bat long into the innings and still strike at 150,” said Finch.

“Jaiswal is gun, he tees off with Rohit Sharma up top, they will go as hard as they can. Once Virat then gets in then the other ones continues to go really hard because everyone know that he is going to bat long,” he added.

They Are Still The Team To Beat - Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch, part of the broadcast team for the 2023 World Cup in India, stated that Australia secured the title despite a poor start in that tournament. The former opener stated that Australia has a chance to clinch the T20 World Cup.

“When I was in India for the World Cup, even when Australia lost the first two games everyone kept saying that they are still the team to beat. I was thinking the way they are playing at the moment, they are not,” Finch further said. 

“They weren't playing good cricket in the first two games, really poor against South Africa in the second, got convincingly beaten by India in the first game. But everyone was talking about the aura of the Australian team in the World Cup so that is something that you feel and hear it talked about when you are playing."

The Australian team beat India in the ODI World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to clinch their sixth title in the 50-over World Cup. They will kick off their campaign in the T20 World Cup against Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday, June 5.

Also read: IND vs IRE: "Guys could feel that on the hamstring..." - Rahul Dravid's shocking revelation on New York Stadium