'Even Rahul Dravid could have been the opener': Sehwag on Virat Kohli’s batting position

Virat Kohli and Virender Sehwag (PC: Twitter)

Though Team India are out of the Asia Cup 2022, former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has emerged as the biggest positive. The 33-year-old finally put an end to his lean patch by smacking a much-awaited century. Playing against Afghanistan in India’s final Asia Cup match in Dubai, Kohli hammered 122 runs off just 61 balls to register his 71st international hundred.

The much-fancied hundred from the batting maestro came while opening the innings. Kohli stitched a 119-run stand with the stand-in captain KL Rahul for the first wicket. The sensational performance by the former skipper has convinced a lot of fans that opening is the best batting position for the 33-year-old in the shortest format of the game. Rohit Sharma missed the match against Afghanistan and thus Kohli was promoted to the top from his regular number three slot.

A lot of people in the cricket fraternity have argued that India should let the right-hander open the innings in the T20 World Cup to utilize his potential properly. However, veteran Indian opening Virender Sehwag doesn't echo the same sentiment.

Sehwag’s big claim on Virat Kohli

Sehwag believes that a single innings can’t be the reason behind making a shift in Kohli’s number three batting position. Notably, the batter has scored a majority of international runs while playing at number three.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Sehwag said,

 “No. By this logic, even Rahul Dravid could have been in the opener. Sachin Tendulkar could have opened in Tests as well. They have also played big knocks in 1-2 innings as openers. I guess Dravid even scored some 160-170 runs and had remained unbeaten when we forged a 400-run partnership for the opening wicket in a Test. It was just because the captain wasn't playing, that's why Kohli opened.”

Further, the Indian great also claimed that Kohli will go on to smash a whopping 100 centuries in his international career. At present, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for smashing most centuries i.e 100 hundred. Sehwag has backed Kohli to equal the record. He also reckoned that soon the fans will be waiting for the 101st century from the batting maestro.

Also Read: Should Virat Kohli be India's regular opener in T20Is?