NEW DELHI: The cricketing world is abuzz with speculation not only about Virat Kohli's strike rate but also about his potential batting position for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The key question: Should Kohli open the innings or stick to his familiar No. 3 spot?
While India's decision-makers, including captain Rohit Sharma, coach Rahul Dravid, and Kohli himself, may have already made their decision, the cricket community remains in suspense until Rohit addresses the matter in the pre-match press conference ahead of India’s fixture against Ireland.
Several cricketing legends have weighed in on the debate.
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly had advocated for Kohli opening the batting. Supporting Ganguly's view, former Australian captain Tim Paine echoed similar sentiments on the 'Around the Wicket' podcast.
"I certainly would [have Kohli open]. I think Virat Kohli has earned the right to bat wherever he wants, particularly when he's in this kind of form," said Paine. "If I were part of the management, I would want my best player facing as many balls as possible."
"Virat is an experienced player, and I would want him at the top to face the maximum number of deliveries," Paine asserted. "When a player of his caliber is in red-hot form, you want him to have the most impact on the game."
On the other side of the debate, former India cricketer Suresh Raina believes Kohli should continue at No. 3, a position where he has traditionally thrived.
Aaron Finch, another former Australian captain, also supports Kohli batting at No.
3. Finch highlighted Kohli's impressive strike rate of 155 this IPL season, the highest of his career, and suggested that Kohli at No. 3 provides the stability needed for the team.
"There was so much talk around it at the start of the tournament. Will he be in the World Cup squad? To be able to put that aside and go out there and do his job… striking at 155 is the highest he has struck throughout his career, so it's a great point," Finch noted.
"I would still keep him at 3. The stability he offers at No. 3 creates an environment for everybody else to play their natural game."
Finch also proposed that Yashasvi Jaiswal, with his aggressive style, should partner Rohit Sharma at the top.
"You've got Jaiswal who can hit them out of the park. He can give them a flyer. I am just not sure whether Virat and Rohit at the top would create that dynamic approach that you need in the West Indies," Finch added.
As the T20 World Cup approaches, the debate over Kohli's batting position remains a hot topic. Fans and experts alike await the final decision, hoping it will best serve India's ambitions on the global stage.
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