'Open With Virat Kohli And Yashasvi Jaiswal': Matthew Hayden Advises India to Play Rohit Sharma at no. 4 During T20 World Cup

The Indian cricket team recently revealed their 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealing how tough it was not to pick certain players who have proved their credentials in the recent past.

However, the selection meeting isn’t going to be the only time the Indian team management will struggle to pick the best possible combination to bring home the elusive ICC trophy.

India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid will have to brainstorm over the best possible eleven that will take the field in the USA and the Caribbean islands in June especially for the opening slots for which there are as many as three claimants.

Besides Rohit, India have Virat Kohli and the young Yashasvi Jaiswal among quality options to open with at the marquee event. In all likeliness, the team would go ahead of the Rohit-Kohli combo unless either of them suffers a remarkable dip in form or an injury.

Australia batting legend Matthew Hayden while expressing his satisfaction at Rohit-Kohli pair as the first choice opener suggested the team to open with Kohli and Jaiswal while asking Rohit to bat at no. 4 spot.

“If you have to make a change in that combination, I would be very happy if you would tell me if I could open with Kohli and Jaiswal, I would have said absolutely yes,” Hayden said on Star Sports.”

Stay updated with the latest from IPL 2024, including top contenders for the IPL 2024 Orange Cap and IPL 2024 Purple Cap. Explore the complete IPL 2024 Schedule, IPL 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours and Most Fifties in IPL 2024

Hayden explained that Kohli can maximise the first six overs and once the fielding restrictions are lifted, India could benefit from some power hitting and Rohit is a great option.

“Then I would slot Suryakumar Yadav at 3 and Rohit at No.4. And that top four, in my opinion, is the right combination. The reason I say that is Virat is a master of the first six. And once the power hitting comes into play, there are other great options including Rohit. Look at his figures at No. 4, they are superb. Those are better than his opening numbers,” Hayden said.