DTVHINDIVirat Kohli should open, Rohit should bat at number 4 – Matthew Hayden’s surprising statement
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden believes that Virat Kohli should open for India along with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. This T20 World Cup will be played next month hosted by West Indies and USA. Kohli has been in great form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) and is the leading run-scorer with 634 runs in 12 matches at an average of 70.44 and a strike rate of 153.51. He has opened so far this season and has scored five fifties and one century. Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma are specialist opening batsmen in India’s 15-member team for the T20 World Cup. Kohli is likely to come in to bat at number 3. However, Australia’s veteran opening batsman Hayden wants Delhi batsmen to open with Yashasvi. Virat Kohli should open, Rohit should bat at number 4 – Matthew Hayden Cricketer-turned-commentator Hayden picked Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit as the No. 3 and No. 4 batsmen respectively. Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden said, “If you have to change that combination, I would be very happy if you tell me if I can open with Kohli and Jaiswal, I would definitely say yes.” He further said, “Then I will keep Suryakumar Yadav at number three and Rohit at number four. And this top four, in my opinion, is the right combination. The reason I say this is that Virat is a master in the first six. And once the power hitting Hayden said, “Coming into the game, there are other great options including Rohit. Look at his statistics at No. 4, they are fantastic.” Yashasvi’s last IPL season was excellent. However, this year he has not been able to showcase his full potential with the bat. In 11 matches, the left-handed batsman has scored just 320 runs at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 157.64. The Rajasthan Royals batsman has only one half-century and one century to his name this season.
