India's T20 World Cup Update: Zaheer Khan Wants Virat Kohli at Number 3 and a Youngster to Open With Rohit Sharma | Exclusive

With the T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, there’s heightened interest level in IPL this time around considering the performances of Indian players in this competition could ultimately dictate the makeup of the squad for the marquee event.

There are several spots up for grabs including the wicketkeeper’s for which there are multiple high-quality claimants. However, there’s another raging debate over for the opening combo too.

If recent reports are to be believed, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could team up to lead the Indian team’s charge at the world cup as openers.

With Rohit and Kohli being the opening pair, it leaves a big question mark over where the likes of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal fit in the scheme of things then.

Another name that has been doing rounds as a back-up opener is of Ishan Kishan, who could also don the wicketkeeping gloves.

India legend Zaheer Khan feels that with so much talent in the pipeline, Indian team is going to have a lot of flexibility in the World Cup.

“Well, you have plenty of options when you are looking at the playing 11,” Zaheer, a JioCinema expert, told News18 in an exclusive conversation.

“It always depends on how the selectors, the coaching staff and the captain is looking to stack up the squad and then have those options. I think the flexibility is definitely going to be there to have these options available at your disposal and I think that should be the right approach,” he added.

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Zaheer believes that India should only focus on building a squad now, be flexible and play according to their tactics.

“You should be focusing on more of 15-member squad which is going to allow you to be flexible and allow you to be having the tactical advantage if you want to play it that way,” he said.

The World Cup winning seamer though feels a youngster should open alongside the Rohit who is set to captain the team as well.

“So, Rohit being specialist opener, you will have one or two more specialist openers and you will look at Virat for number three is something I feel,” the Zaheer said.