Legendary Australian spinner Brad Hogg opined that India would be best served in the T20 World Cup 2024 if Virat Kohli is moved up to the opening spot along with Rohit Sharma.
While Virat Kohli has played most of his T20I career for India at number 3 – and achieved immense success – he has pummelled all his 5 IPL centuries for RCB as an opener. Brad Hogg’s argument is that if Virat Kohli opens the innings in T20 cricket, he could set himself up by taking on the pacers early on, instead of starting against the spinners at number 3, which is not his best suit these days.
Kohli and Rohit Sharma both had marked their comebacks in the T20I XI last month against Afghanistan, and both are all but certain to feature in the T20 World Cup 2024 in June in the West Indies and the USA.
On his YouTube channel, Brad Hogg said, “If Virat Kohli is playing in the T20 World Cup, I would like to see him opening the batting with Rohit Sharma. That’s where I think he can get the best out of him with the fields up and he can use the pace. At the backend, if you have one of Rohit or Virat batting through the innings, you could have perfect stabilization.”
India will need the experience of Rohit and Virat Kohli in West Indies: Brad Hogg
The T20 World Cup this year is very likely to be the last chance for Virat Kohli to win a T20 World Cup. And though Rohit was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, he is motivated to end India’s decade-long ICC title drought.
Hogg pointed out that the pitches in West Indies are challenging for batters, especially as the tournament goes deep and the surfaces suffer wear and tear under the sun. To tackle quality bowlers on such pitches, Hogg believes, India need the services of the likes of Rohit and Kohli.
“If you look at the World Cup venues (West Indies), the wickets will be a bit tricky. India will need the experience of Rohit and Kohli there. Kohli is about to make 12000 runs in T20 cricket. So, their presence will boost India’s batting” Hogg added.
Before the T20 World Cup, the form of both batters in the IPL would be crucial for India’s chances.
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