T20 World Cup 2024 | "Virat opens, Rohit bats at number three": Ajay Jadeja

Ajay Jadeja (Pic: File Pic)

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, former all-rounder Ajay Jadeja wants Rohit Sharma to bat at number three and instead Virat Kohli should open the innings for India. The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin in June in the USA and the West Indies.

India announced their 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup and will begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5. "For me, Virat Kohli opens. Who goes back? Rohit Sharma bats at three. He gets a little cushion and gets to understand the game, he has so much going on, in his mind as a captain," Jadeja told Jio Cinema.

"If you have Virat in your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get, so, might as well use him. He's best at the top and the powerplay allows him to settle in," he added.

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Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, Ajay Jadeja also backed the selection of all-rounder Hardik Pandya who is currently struggling with his form. "The spotlight is on him for obvious reasons. He's a special player, a rare commodity you find in our country where somebody bowls seam-up and can make it to the side with his batting," he said referring to the furore caused by his elevation to Mumbai Indians captaincy replacing Rohit.

Pandya, who is enduring a poor run in the IPL 2024, will be Rohit's deputy during the T20 World Cup 2024.

"The selection has not been on form, there's no doubt about it. It depends on how you want to play. It's one of the things I look at this team and think they don't have many options.

"You have established players in the side, everybody is so solid with the numbers that they play at, and what stage they play. It will all depend on what Rohit thinks," Jadeja said.

(With PTI Inputs)