Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Kamran Akmal feels that star India batter Virat Kohli should bat at No.3 and not open for Team India in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup as well. The veteran batter opened with Rohit Sharma in India’s tournament opener against Ireland. Despite Kohli scoring only 1 off 5 deliveries, Team India won the match comfortably by eight wickets in the 13th over.

Speaking on his YouTube channel ahead of the marquee India-Pakistan clash, Akmal said, “I don’t think the batting order is correct. Virat Kohli can take the pressure at No.3 and finish the match. That is very important for Team India. Yashasvi Jaiswal should open the batting. Kohli should come at 3. If India stick to this batting order (of Kohli) opening, then they may get stuck at some point. Kohli holds one end up and finishes off the game. I think India are making a mistake by opening with Kohli.”

While Virat Kohli averages an amazing 50 as an opener in T20Is, his numbers at No.3 are even better with an average of almost 54 in 80
innings as well. The Ireland match was only the second time Rohit and Kohli opened in a T20I innings, with the first coming in 2021 as well.

“India will be confident. Bumrah bowled well, Siraj did well. Hardik Pandya also got wickets. They have three matches at the same venue, that will also be an advantage. ICC will have to produce better pitches for big matches. Otherwise, people will go away from this World Cup,” again shared Akmal.

However, he also opened up on Pakistan’s loss to the USA in their last game as well.

“The biggest insult for Pakistan cricket is losing the game in the Super Over,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel. “There can’t be a bigger insult than this. The USA played exceptionally well. They didn’t feel like a low-ranked side. It felt like they were ranked above Pakistan. That is the level of maturity they showed. They deserved to win because they played better cricket than us. The face of our cricket has been revealed. It shows how we are taking our cricket forward.”