IND vs AFG: Here's why Virat Kohli should open with T20 World Cup in focus

Kohli averages 57 in the nine innings as an opener in the T20 international. He has a strike rate of 161.29

Virat Kohli has returned to Team India's set-up after the 2022 T20 World Cup debacle. He will take the field against Afghanistan on Thursday in the first T20 International. While fans want to see him partner with Rohit Sharma at the top of the order, cricket pundits also see Kohli as a better prospect for India's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Kohli has been opening the innings in T20s for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and it is on this basis that former cricketer turned cricket pundit Aakash Chopra said that he should open the innings against Afghanistan in the three-match series as well.

 

“In my opinion, Kohli is at his best in T20s when he opens the innings and bats in the powerplay overs. If you don’t give him that option and if he becomes a little slow against spinners, then it wouldn’t be surprising,” said Chopra in his weekly show Aakashvaani for Jiocinema, the official broadcasters of the India-Afghanistan T20 international series. 

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Why should Kohli open the innings?

Kohli has not been a regular opener in T20 internationals. He has only opened in nine innings. However, he has been brilliant in those innings, scoring 400 runs at an average of 57.14 and a strike rate of 161.29.

Virat Kohli's T20 records at various batting positions 

Batting Position	Inns	NO	100s	50s	0s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Opening	9	2	1	2	0	122*	400	57.14	161.29
3	78	23	0	32	3	94*	3047	55.4	135
4	17	5	0	3	0	77*	509	42.42	141.39
5	1	1	0	0	0	26*	26		123.81
6	2	0	0	0	1	26	26	13	136.84
Overall	107	31	1	37	4	122*	4008	52.74	137.97

In the IPL too, Kohli has had a superb run at the top of the batting order, scoring 3611 runs at an average of 43.51, his best among all batting positions and at a strike rate of 135.45, again best among all batting positions with more than 20 innings.

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Virat Kohli's record at various batting positions in IPL 

Batting Position	Inns	NO	100s	50s	0s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R	% Team Runs
Opening	98	15	7	26	4	113	3611	43.51	135.45	22.96
No. 3	93	13	0	20	5	99	2815	35.19	123.79	19.17
No. 4	13	2	0	2	0	73	376	34.18	131.47	18.92
No. 5	8	1	0	0	0	38	173	24.71	111.61	15.19
No. 6	13	2	0	2	1	58	237	21.55	144.51	11.93
No. 7	4	1	0	0	0	37	51	17	124.39	8.95
Overall	229	34	7	50	10	113	7263	37.25	130.02	20.12

It is for this reason that Chopra wanted Kohli to open the innings. 

However, Chopra, 46, also said that he is fully aware that Kohli will not open the innings. “So, will Kohli open? I don’t think so. I feel one of either Yashasvi (Jaiswal) or (Shubman) Gill will play. Gill is a senior player so he may play and Yashasvi will have to sit out. It won’t be fair, but that can happen. I see Kohli batting at No. 3,” he said.