"Virat Kohli should come at No. 3" - Mohammad Kaif on the change India should make for remaining 2024 T20 World Cup games
Mohammad Kaif wants Virat Kohli to bat at No. 3 in India's remaining 2024 T20 World Cup games. The Men in Blue will face Canada in their final Group A game in Florida on Saturday, June 15, before moving to the West Indies for the Super 8 stage.
Kohli opened alongside Rohit Sharma in India's first three group games in New York. He aggregated a paltry five runs and was dismissed for a golden duck in the last game against the United States of America.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Kaif was asked about an improvement area for India for the rest of the tournament.
"Virat Kohli should come at No. 3. I am saying that because his numbers at No. 3 for India are fabulous. These are seaming conditions and batting against the new ball has been difficult. So I believe Virat will get a little time. He can analyze the game from outside," he responded.
The former India batter pointed out that Kohli can plan his innings better if he bats at No. 3.
"For example, Saurabh Netravalkar was bowling and he had never played him earlier. He tried to drive the first ball and got caught behind. When you sit outside, you analyze what the bowlers are trying to do, how the pitch is behaving, and how you can bat," Kaif explained.
While acknowledging that the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper succeeded as an opener in IPL 2024, Kaif highlighted the disparity in conditions.
"I understand that he opened in the IPL but the conditions were flat in the IPL. They were high-scoring matches where 200 runs were being scored. Virat Kohli was scoring 80-90 while opening there and that is why he is opening here. However, here the conditions are different. The ball is moving a little," he elaborated.
Kohli was the Orange Cap winner in IPL 2024. He amassed 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 in 15 innings.
"He should come to bat after 3 or 4 overs and take the game to the end, which Virat Kohli has the mastery in" - Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif cited the example of Virat Kohli's knock in India's 2022 T20 World Cup win against Pakistan in Melbourne to substantiate his point.
"I believe he should come to bat after three or four overs and take the game to the end, which Virat Kohli has the mastery in. He calculates and takes the game to the end. We repeatedly show the 2022 game against Pakistan, 28 runs were required off eight balls and Virat Kohli was there at the end," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Rishabh Pant can partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order, with Kohli moving to No. 3.
"He took his time at the start and then finished the game. I feel Rishabh Pant, who has come from No. 5 to No. 3, should be made to open. You will get a left-right combination there and Virat can come at No. 3, with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. This should be a plan for the upcoming matches," Kaif stated.
Pant is India's highest run-scorer in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The wicketkeeper-batter aggregated 96 runs at a strike rate of 124.67 in three innings at No. 3 on the seamer-friendly pitch in New York.