Virat Kohli at No. 3, Rohit Sharma-Rishabh Pant as Opener’s – Mohammed Kaif Suggests Ahead of T20 WC 2024 Super 8s

New York: After Virat Kohli registered a rare golden duck against USA on Wednesday in New York in a T20 World Cup 2024 game, former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has gone on to suggest that a new batting order for the side in the upcoming games. As per Kaif, Kohli should play at No. 3, while India captain Rohit Sharma should open with Rishabh Pant. Kaif reckons Kohli would flourish at No. 3 and he also believes that with this combination at the top, the side would also be able to maintain a solid right-left pairing.

Pant with Rohit. Virat back to number 3. That’s my wish for the upcoming #T20WorldCup matches. pic.twitter.com/wsMxdNa2Ly

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 12, 2024

“He has been opening in these seaming conditions where batting is not easy, unlike the flat pitches in the IPL. He plays excellently and aggressively, but perhaps here, he shouldn’t play aggressively; maybe he should play to save his wicket,” Kaif said.

Kaif further explained, “At number three, Virat Kohli will play his natural game. He will have time to settle and analyze the game. Scoring 50-60 runs would be great for him. His ss stats at this position in previous World Cups are impressiive. If Rishabh Pant can move from number five to number three, then he can also open from number three. You will get a left-right combination, with Kohli at number three and Suryakumar Yadav at number four.”

Earlier, pacer Arshdeep Singh was brilliant with the ball while taking four wickets as India restricted the USA to 110/8. Nitish Kumar (27, 23b, 2×4 1×6) batted well in the company of former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson (15, 12b, 1×4, 1×6) after the USA were asked to bat first. For India, Arshdeep (4/9) and Hardik Pandya (2/14) were the best in the park, picking up six wickets between them.