T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli confirmed as India opener against Pakistan

Virat Kohli failed as an opener against Ireland in the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York. The star batsman was dismissed for 1 off 5 balls.

However,  the Indian team management is set to stick to the  Kohli and Rohit Sharma opening combination for India's next match against arch-rival Pakistan. 

If India batting coach Vikram Rathour's words after India's 8-wicket win against Ireland is anything to go by, then the 2007 T20 World Cup winners are likely to stick to the same combination in the high-voltage match against Pakistan.

India decided to drop Yashasvi Jaiswal, a designated opener, and push Kohli at the top of the order to play an extra big batter - Shivam Dube - in the middle order in the game against Ireland. 

Besides, Kohli, as an opener, solves several problems for India. It opens up a spot in the middle order for them to add someone like Dube and gives Rishabh Pant a better position.