T20 World Cup 2024: Wasim Jaffer calls for Rohit Sharma's demotion; backs Virat Kohli to open with this player

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer wants to see Virat Kohli pair up with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma to appear at number 3 or 4 in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

The Indian playing XI composition and combination is being widely discussed by each Indian fan and every cricket pundit and Wasim Jaffer is no different. In just a few days' time, we will be seeing the Indian team play their first ICC T20 World Cup 2024 match against Ireland before another 3 matches in the Group stages. 

Following the group stages, the Indians will be waiting for their opponents in the Super 8 stage after which the semi-finals and final will be played in Barbados. This is going to be another assignment for the Indian team wherein they will be hoping to quench their thirst for an ICC Trophy for the first time since 2013's Champions Trophy. 

 Wasim Jaffer wants Rohit Sharma to bat at number 3/4

While most of the expert pundits want Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to pair at the top, Wasim Jaffer has a different thought to it. The former Right-hand batter wants Kohli, who finished as the highest run-scorer in IPL 2024, to pair with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is going to make his World Cup debut for the Men in Blue. 

"Kohli and Jaiswal should open in the World Cup imo. Rohit & SKY should bat 3 and 4 depending on the start we get. Rohit plays spin really well so batting at 4 shouldn't be a concern," Wasim Jaffer wrote on X.

Kohli & Jaiswal should open in the World Cup imo. Rohit & SKY should bat 3&4 depending on the start we get. Rohit plays spin really well so batting at 4 shouldn't be a concern. #T20WorldCup #INDvPAK #INDvIRE pic.twitter.com/nMgwwaDNXb

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 29, 2024

Wasim Jaffer wants a Virat Kohli-Yashasvi Jaiswal pairing and Rohit Sharma-Suryakumar Yadav as the number 3 and 4 batters. 

Wasim Jaffer believes that since Rohit Sharma plays very well against the spinners, sending the Indian captain as a 1st or 2nd down batter will not be a concern. If this happens, then Rohit will be playing in a position, other than that of an opening batter, after a long time. 

The opening pair of Kohli and Jaiswal is still considerable. Kohli was responsible for giving the Royal Challengers Bengaluru a positive start in IPL 2024 while Jaiswal is more than capable of giving the team an aggressive start. It might be his first-ever appearance at the World Cup stage but the youngster has got all the makings to lead the nation from the front. 

India's squad for T20 WC 2024

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan