'If you don’t give him that option...' - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's best batting position in T20s ahead of IND vs AFG series

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to make a comeback in the shortest format of the game as two veterans have been included in the squad for the series against Afghanistan. However, on the eve of the three-match series opener, head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that Kohli had opted out of the first match in Mohali due to personal reasons.

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The 35-year-old last played a 20-over match for India in November 2022 during the T20 World Cup semi-final against England. With the 2024 World Cup set to take place in June, both Kohli and Rohit have made themselves available for selection. The home series against Afghanistan is India's final T20I assignment before the marquee event in West Indies/USA. 

Meanwhile, there is some dilemma over Kohli's batting position in Team India. The star batter, of course, is synonymous with No. 3, but he has been playing the role of opener in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has also good stats with the national team while opening. Former India cricketer Akash Chopra has given his opinion on Kohli's best batting position in T20Is as the right-hander's strike rate drops slightly when he takes on the spinners in the middle overs. 

Kohli is at his best in T20s when he opens the innings: Chopra

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Chopra believes that the former India captain is at his best when he opens the innings. However, with youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in the squad, the cricketer-turned-commentator feels that Kohli will bat at his usual number three position.

"In my opinion, Kohli is at his best in T20s when he opens the innings and bats in the powerplay overs. If you don’t give him that option and if he becomes a little slow against spinners, then it wouldn’t be surprising. That’s because it has happened regularly. So, will Kohli open? I don’t think socI feel one of either Yashasvi (Jaiswal) or (Shubman) Gill will play. Gill is a senior player so he may play and Yashasvi will have to sit out. It won’t be fair, but that can happen. I see Kohli batting at No. 3," Chopra told JioCinema.

Kohli was the opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2023 and managed to finish the season as the fourth-highest run-scorer with 639 runs. He also scored two centuries and six half-centuries at an average of 53.25 in 14 matches. Notably, Kohli scored his maiden T20I century in the 2022 Asia Cup match against Afghanistan, marking a return to form after a rough patch of nearly three years.