There is hardly any doubt about
Virat Kohli
's place in
India's T20 World Cup squad
, which is expected to be named by the BCCI before ICC's deadline of May 1, but former Australia batsman
Matthew Hayden
believes that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will have to decide whether it wants to go with with "experience or youth".
LIVE UPDATES: India's T20 World Cup squad announcement
There were doubts raised over Virat's place in the
T20 World Cup
squad before the start of the ongoing IPL season, but the Indian legend's bat has silenced all doubters, amassing 500 runs in 10 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
His strike-rate, which has been the key part of the debate over his name, is not bad by T20 standards at 147.49. He averages 71.42 and has scored one century and four half-centuries in his 10 innings so far.
"This Virat Kohli discussion is probably the primary discussion here," said Hayden on the Star Sports Press Room show. "Is he the individual who is going to win you the World Cup? I mean, his last ODI World Cup was a fantastic campaign. He has got nothing wrong with his statistics historically, no matter what tournament he plays. So the challenge from mine is his experience vs the young impetus that is required to play great World Cup cricket.
Hayden raised doubts over Kohli's ability to bat in the middle overs on the slow and low wickets expected in US and West Indies, the co-hosts of the June 2 to 29 tournament.
"More than anything, India are playing four games in the USA and they are unknown conditions, or at least less known than the Caribbean. And statistically, if you look at the way Caribbean cricket is played, you're going to face a lot of spin through the middle order. So outside the first six overs, that's where the challenge for Virat Kohli lies, when the pace comes off the ball and you're in a situation where guys like great stroke-players like (Shivam) Dube or Rinku (Singh) are present to carry you forward," Hayden pointed out.
Hayden cited the example of India's young T20 squad led by Suryakumar Yadav, which registered a 4-1 series win in Australia.
“Then again, do you go with youth? I mean, when you look at India's second XI side that played Australia in November, you hammered us – the World Champions – 4-1 in that series and you are playing guys like Gaikwad who are not even in this discussion. Jaiswal was there as well getting hundreds. Anyway, I have challenged the thinking of the hierarchy in terms of do you go with experience or youth that's got the world at their feet, no baggage and come into their own.”
The former opener said that back in Australia, the focus while picking a squad is not on reputation but on players who can win you the trophy.
"From an Australian cricket point of view, our philosophy is pretty simple. We pick not the names or the icons but select those who are going to win you the World Cup. We've got our own debates on our front. David Warner… should he go? We've had our challenges and I think we have been very good over the last 20 or even 30 years to actually think what is the side that is going to win."
English (US) ·