Virat Kohli will show why Indian selectors have faith in him at opening slot: Matthew Hayden

With India's ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign moving to the crucial Super Eight stage, all eyes are on star batter Virat Kohli's form at the top of the order, who has struggled big time in the previous games.

The 35-year-old has struggled drastically so far, failing to register a single double-digit score. However, former Australian batting great Matthew Hayden feels the Indian selectors are right to keep faith in Kohli as an opener, and believes he will rediscover his best at the tournament's Caribbean leg.

Kohli arrived at the marquee event on the back of an impressive IPL 2024 season where he scored 741 runs and won the Orange Cap. His IPL form as an opener was key in him getting the nod to partner skipper Rohit Sharma at the top for India. However, scores of 1, 4, and 0 in the first round have put pressure on the veteran. Hayden, who observed Kohli from close quarters in the IPL, is convinced that the Indian great must continue opening the batting.

"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 bowler's performance during this World Cup," Hayden said on a special edition of Star Sports press room.

Also read: Don't think three low scores make any difference to Virat Kohli: Michael Clarke

Virat Kohli is going to be challenged when he arrives here in the Caribbean: Matthew Hayden

The former cricketer has optimism that Kohli will be doing great in the Caribbean wickets and will give his team solid starts. He also gave examples of Travis Head and David Warner about their innings against England in Barbados.

"And his performance in Barbados on sort of sluggish wicket initially, he scored 38 runs and it was an important well-constructed 30, so what is your benchmark or is it 100's or 50s 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," he added.

Also read: Matthew Hayden backs Virat Kohli to come good in Super Eights

Hayden highlighted the importance of a fast start, especially in a fast-paced format like T20s. The left-hander believes that the first 10 overs of the match is very crucial and sets the tone for the remaining match.

"So he has to open in my opinion and I 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 him 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," he concluded.

The Men in Blue topped the group stage defeating their opponents, including Pakistan, USA, and Ireland, with their game against Canada getting washed out. They are in the same Super Eight group as Australia, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.