Virat Kohli has scores of 1, 4, 0 in T20 World Cups thus far.
India opted to open with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli instead of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit. This meant that Kohli was moved up from his preferred position of no.3 to accommodate an all-rounder in the team. India also wanted to take advantage of Kohli’s form as an opener in IPL 2024, where he smashed 741 runs.
However, following Virat Kohli's consecutive poor performances in the T20 World Cup 2024, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has urged a change in Kohli's batting order. According to Kaif, Kohli should bat third, with Rishabh Pant opening with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.
"I believe Virat Kohli should bat at number three. He has been opening in these seaming conditions where batting is not easy, unlike the flat pitches in the IPL. He plays excellently and aggressively, but perhaps here, he shouldn't play aggressively; maybe he should play to save his wicket,” Kaif posted on X.
Justifying that Kohli would be able to play his natural game at number three, Kaif further explained, "At number three, Virat Kohli will play his natural game. He will have time to settle and analyze the game. Scoring 50-60 runs would be great for him.
His stats at this position in previous World Cups are impressive. If Rishabh Pant can move from number five to number three, then he can also open from number three. You will get a left-right combination, with Kohli at number three and Suryakumar Yadav at number four."
Virat Kohli was handed his first golden duck in the T20 World Cups and his second in the shortest format against the USA. Saurabh Netravalkar, dismissed Kohli for a golden duck, getting him to edge a full delivery outside off stump to keeper Andries Gous.