Credit: X

Credit: X

Team India are scheduled to face Afghanistan in their first Super 8 clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday at the  Kensington Oval Barbados. Ahead of the Super 8 clash, former Australia batter and current commentator Matthew Hayden expressed his faith in Virat Kohli and backed the 35-year-old to continue as the opener for India.

Matthew Hayden, on a special edition of STAR SPORTS PRESS ROOM FOR SUPER 8 on Virat Kohli’s playing position, said, "We discussed a lot together during the IPL. I was advocating at that point that if Kohli is going to be part of the team. A statement during the IPL where he was performing so nicely as an opener. Virat at 3 I don't think he'd get the best out of Virat and as I mentioned before these aren't just turn up and blast 250 runs wickets. You need thinking cricketers and the bowlers performance during this World Cup. And his performance in Barbados on sort of sluggish wicket initially, he scored 38 runs and it was a really important well-constructed 30, so what is your benchmark or is it 100's or 50's or is it strike rate and the way that Travis Head and David Warner came out on a pretty good wicket in Barbados against England and just blew the ground away. That's what Virat  Kohli is going to be challenged with when he arrives here in the Caribbean."

Hayden added, "So he has to open in my opinion and I really believe the pressure for the next week and a half where he's going to be open up and he will show you what I believe why the Indian selectors will have faith in them at that position and he needs to continue also to have a great strike rate because clearly what we've seen with the pattern emerges here in the World Cup is that those 6 overs  you have to be in front of the game, here it's too hard to catch up if you're looking to go you know in the back half of this game must be a good pretty good first 10 overs."

Speaking exclusively on a special edition of STAR SPORTS PRESS ROOM FOR SUPER 8, former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla discussed who Kuldeep Yadav might replace if he comes into the playing XI—Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja. He said, "Well, you definitely need one spinner, especially in those conditions where the ball is spinning and the pitch is on the slower side. So, I would say I will not choose between either Axar or Jadeja because you need three spinners in those conditions. And with the way Hardik Pandya is bowling, you can consider him your third seamer. So, it's going to be a toss-up between Arshdeep and Siraj. And while Arshdeep has bowled well, and I don't want to take any credit away from Siraj, if you have to choose between those two, I think Siraj has to make way for Kuldeep.

If you look at the conditions, all the venues are suited for spinners. When the team was formed, everyone asked why four spinners were included in the squad, and Rohit said that we would find out. He actually meant for this leg. We are already playing two spinners here, and an additional spinner would add to the squad. Like Srikkanth sir said, Siraj is doing well, but looking at the team combination, Kuldeep should be included in the squad."

Speaking exclusively on a special edition of STAR SPORTS PRESS ROOM FOR SUPER 8, former West Indian cricketer Ian Bishop shared his thoughts on who Kuldeep Yadav might replace if he comes into the playing XI—Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja. He said, "I really don't know. Axar brings accuracy, and if the pitch is turning sharply, he can combine that accuracy with a quick turn. But Ravindra Jadeja can also do that. So, honestly, I have no idea which one they will leave out. This is one of the rare cards."

(With Inputs From Press Release)