India’s Quest for the Perfect No. 4: The Virat Kohli Conundrum
Ever since the legendary Yuvraj Singh stepped away from international cricket, Team India has been grappling with the question: Who is the ideal No. 4 batter? Multiple players have auditioned for the role, yet none have truly nailed it down. The upcoming 50-over World Cup throws this unresolved issue into sharp relief.
The Trial and Error Phase
Post-Yuvraj, players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul made strong cases when played at No. 4. However, injuries sidelined them earlier this year. In their absence, others like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and even Axar Patel were tried out. Of the lot, Samson showed promise in limited opportunities, but most others failed to impress.
Iyer and Rahul: The Comeback Duo
Now, both Iyer and Rahul have returned to the side. While Iyer seems the most likely candidate to reclaim the role, given his 805 runs from 20 matches at No. 4, Rahul also remains a contender. Besides, young talent Tilak Varma provides an additional option for the middle order.
The AB de Villiers’ Perspective
Interestingly, AB de Villiers recently weighed in on this debate. He suggested that Virat Kohli should take up the No. 4 spot. “I think Virat is perfect for No. 4,” said De Villiers on his Youtube channel. According to him, Kohli’s ability to put an innings together and adapt makes him ideal for this critical position.
Kohli’s Track Record at No. 4
De Villiers raises a valid point. Although Kohli loves batting at No. 3, his No. 4 statistics are noteworthy. In 39 innings, Kohli has amassed 1,767 runs at an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66. Nevertheless, Kohli last batted at this position over three years ago. De Villiers acknowledges this but argues that Kohli should be willing to change if the team needs it.
The Reluctance Factor
Kohli, a cricketing superstar, enjoys his No. 3 spot. De Villiers understands this but believes that if the team needs you elsewhere, you should step up. “If the team needs you to do something, you have got to put your hand up and go for it,” he added.
The Asia Cup Opportunity
The upcoming Asia Cup, starting August 30, provides the perfect testing ground for this ongoing experiment. It serves as an excellent prelude to the World Cup and offers Iyer a chance to firmly stake his claim for the No. 4 slot.
AB de Villiers said: “We’re still talking about who will be the No. 4 batter for India. I’ve heard some rumours about Virat possibly taking up that position. I would be a big supporter of that. I think Virat is perfect for No. 4. He can put the innings together, play any kind of role in that middle order. I don’t know if he would like to do that. We know he loves his No. 3 position; he’s scored all his runs there, but at the end of the day, if the team needs you to do something, play a certain role, you have got to put your hand up and got for it.”
ALSO READ Jos Buttler Discloses Whether Harry Brook Will Get His Chance In The World Cup 2023
The quest for India’s ideal No. 4 continues, and with the World Cup looming, the stakes have never been higher. While fresh talents and returning stars are in the fray, the prospect of Kohli taking up this role adds a new layer of intrigue. De Villiers’ endorsement of this idea certainly makes it worthy of consideration. As Team India heads into the Asia Cup, all eyes will be on who seizes this pivotal role and whether that choice will serve them well in the bigger battles that lie ahead.
