Former Indian Skipper Virat Kohli had recently made comeback to the Indian Squad in the Asia Cup 2022 after he took a break during West Indies and Zimbabwe tour right before the Asia Cup. Virat Kohli was seen in great form in this edition of the Asia Cup and Virat also managed to score his much-awaited century after more than 1000 days in International Cricket.
This century in the Asia Cup have given fans a great reason to celebrate after Indian Team’s loss against Babar Azam’s Pakistan and Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka.
Former Australian Captain Matthew Hayden is of the opinion that Virat Kohli shouldn’t be opening the batting for India in T20Is, saying that his best spot is at No.3. Kohli recently scored a hundred in the Asia Cup while opening.
Matthew Hayden has claimed that Virat Kohli shouldn’t be opening the batting for India in T20Is and should be coming in at the No.3 spot in the batting order for the team. Kohli opened the batting for India’s last match in the Asia Cup and scored his first T20I hundred against Afghanistan. However, Hayden is of the opinion that Kohli should come in at the No.3 spot for India.
Matthew Hayden Opens Up On Virat Kohli’s Batting Position
In a virtual press conference organized by Star Sports, expressed to not entertain the debate regarding Virat Opening for Indian Team. He said, “And this great debate around Virat batting up, GG (Gautam 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,”.
Hayden went on to say that KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma shouldn’t be forced to look over their shoulders and have pressure heading into the World Cup. He further went on to say that Kohli is a world-class player and should be coming in at No.3.
Hayden went on to say that you should not enter the World Cup with doubt. He said, “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 batsman 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 his 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.”