It’s been four years since the 2019 World Cup for team India, but finding an ideal number four still remains. Cut to 2023, Rohit Sharma & Co are back to square one – no solid player at the crucial role in ODIs ahead of World Cup 2023. Ravi Shastri though has suggested Virat Kohli to bat at the number four if Shreyas Iyer does not recover fully from injury ahead of the showpiece event.
Kohli has a good record at number four as he has scored 1767 runs at an average of 55.21. However, just pushing the former India captain one position down ahead of the World Cup could mess team’s combination. Suryakumar Yadav has so far failed to seal the number four spot in the absence of Iyer, as he has scored only two fifties in 24 ODI innings at a dismal average of 24. Shastri reckons Kohli can bat at number four if the team wants.
“If Virat has to bat at four, he will bat at four in the interest of the side. You know, there were times I thought of it,” Shastri said in a chat on Star Sports’ Selection Day show.
“Even in the previous two World Cups, when I was coach in 2019, I thought I might have discussed that with MSK as well of him batting at four just to break that top-heavy lineup,” he said.
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Virat Kohli: Why Shastri believes Kohli can bat at number four during World Cup 2023?
· Suryakumar’s repetitive failures and Shreyas Iyer’s availability for the World Cup is pushing Rohit Sharma, & coach Dravid to think of using Kohli at number four.
· Also, during the West Indies ODI series Ishan Kishan opened and scored three consecutive fifties. Kishan offers a left-hand option as well in a right-hander batting-heavy lineup.
· If Rahul does not keep wickets during Asia Cup, then Kishan can bat up with Gill. Rohit can bat at number three.
· If Rohit bats at three, then Kohli can bat at four. This will allow India much-needed stability in the middle order.
· But if Rahul recovers during Asia Cup and can keep wickets then India won’t play Kishan at the top.
Shastri also stated that with Kohli’s huge amount of experience, Team India should think of using him at four.
“You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we were gone, and it was proved so just for reaching that experience. And if you look at Kohli’s record, he is good enough at number four,” said Shastri.
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