Virat Kohli should open for India in T20 World Cup 2024: Simon Doull

Virat Kohli is the top run-getter at the moment in IPL 2024 with 319 runs from six games at an average of 79.75 and a strike rate of 141.78. Despite his team not winning games, Kohli is scoring runs.

An in-form Virat Kohli should be good news for the Indian cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in June. There were reports of Kohli likely to be axed from India's T20 World Cup squad for the event. However, his recent run of form is indicating something else.

Kohli was the top-scorer in the last T20 World Cup scoring 296 runs at an average of 98.67 in six games. Now with him in top form, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull wants him to open in the upcoming event.

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India have a settled opening pair with Rohit Sharma at one end and one between Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal at the other. However, in his current form, Doull wants Kohli to open with Rohit.

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Virat Kohli Should Open To Slot In Rinku Singh: Simon Doull

He explained the reason behind why he wants Virat Kohli to open with Rohit Sharma. This combination will allow Rinku Singh to be slotted in the XI.

“Virat Kohli should open the innings. In my team, Rinku Singh is there, but if Kohli plays at the No. 3 slot, the star finisher will miss out. Virat can be clubbed with Rohit as it is the best batting position for him. He is a great timer of the ball and can hit boundaries upfront. Coming in and playing against the spinners is not the best option for Virat,” he said on Cricbuzz.

He does not see the likes of Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal featuring in the XI. Instead, he slotted Sanju Samson as three as the keeper-batter, Suryakumar Yadav at four, Rinku Singh at five, Shivam Dube at six, and Ravindra Jadeja at seven shaping up the look of the likely batting lineup for India.

“I know it looks like a stupid prediction, but I don’t think Jaiswal can make it to the Playing XI. Samson should bat at No 3, Suryakumar at No 4, Dube and Rinku at 5 and 6, Jadeja at 7,” he added.

Simon Doull does not have the likes of Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya in his batting lineup suggesting that others should be given a chance. Meanwhile, Kishan recently scored 69 off 34 balls against RCB at a strike rate of over 200 bolstering his chances of selection. Hardik also scored an unbeaten 21 off six balls as he took MI to victory.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has already confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Hardik Pandya was the first choice but his long injury layoff and no international cricket behind his back in recent times made the management go back to Rohit who led India to the final of the ODI World Cup last year.

Rohit Sharma has time and again spoken about winning a World Cup for India. He was close to winning the ODI World Cup and now has his eyes set on winning the T20 World Cup.

Here’s Doull’s suggestion for India’s batting line-up: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh and Ravindra Jadeja.

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