IND vs AUS 2022: Virat Kohli should continue to bat at No.3 – Matthew Hayden

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes Virat Kohli should continue to bat at one down in the upcoming matches. Kohli had scored a scintillating knock of 122 runs in the team’s last match of the Asia Cup against Afghanistan to get back into form and end his century drought.

Since then there has been a discussion about whether Virat Kohli should open the innings with Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup as KL Rahul is yet to find his top form.

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes Kohli provides the glue between the top order and the middle order and he should keep batting at his usual position.

“We have been speaking a lot about this. For me, it’s almost a non-discussion. He(Kohli) bats at No. 3 for this reason. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have got a really good opening partnership. You consolidate at No. 3. The glue is what Australia have been missing in this series, that is Steve Smith,” Hayden said.

Kohli has looked at his previous best in the recent past since returning from a one-month break. The talisman had scored 276 runs in the five matches of the Asia Cup at an average of 92 and a blistering strike rate of 147.59.

Furthermore, he scored a fine knock of 63 runs off 48 balls in the deciding T20I against Australia to help his team chase down 187 runs.

“Virat Kohli is a champion batter. He has done that for India for such a long period of time. He knows he is in that phase where he is enjoying his game big time. He knows that the rhythm is back, the hunger is back, you can see that with the body language that he is displaying along with his mates. That’s what you want to see in him, enjoying,” Bangar said on Star Sports.

“There was a phase where the pressure was getting to him. But after the break, the sense of enjoyment is back, the feeling of hitting a cricket ball is back in his game,” he added.

Virat Kohli returning to form is a great sign for India as he is looking at his best. Kohli will look to keep up his good show ahead of the T20 World Cup.

The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played on Wednesday.