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India's opening pair has been one of the biggest talking points ever since BCCI announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup 2024 which is set to be held in the West Indies and United States. Many former cricketers believe Virat Kohli should open with Rohit Sharma considering his form. However, many of them also stated that he should stick to the number three spot. Now two former Australian skippers Aaron Finch and Tim Paine have joined the debate.
Tim Pain backs Virat Kohli to open for India
Tim Paine believes that Virat Kohli is in astonishing form and should be promoted up on the batting order. However, he also said that the former Indian captain has earned the right to bat at any position he wants in the line-up.
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"I certainly would [have Kohli open]. I think Virat Kohli has earned the right to bat wherever he wants, particularly when he's in this kind of form. Virat is an experienced player and I'm sure they will be having conversations but whether he bats one, two or three will worry him too much. Having said that if I was the selection or coach in that team, I would want my best player, the best player in red-hot form, I would want him facing as many balls as possible so I'll try and slot him back at the top," Paine said on the 'Around the Wicket' podcast.
Aaron Finch wants Kohli to stick at number three spot
Unlike Paine, Finch believes that Kohli should stick to the number three spot in the batting line-up as it will provide the whole team with enough stability and he even said that Rohit and Virat opening for India is not one of the most dynamic approaches for West Indies conditions.
"There was so much talk around it at the start of the tournament. Will he be in the World Cup squad so to be able to put that aside and go out there and do his job… like you said striking at 155 is the highest he has struck in throughout his career so it's a great point. He is just a brilliant player. I love watching him play. The way that he dissects a run chase is extraordinary. But I would still keep him at 3," said Finch.
"I think the stability of him at 3 just creates an environment for everybody else around to play their natural game. And you've got Jaiswal who can hit them out of the park. He can give them a flyer. I am just not sure whether Virat and Rohit at the top would create that dynamic approach that you need in West Indies," he added.
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