Former India head coach Ravi Shastri is one of those experts who believes Virat Kohli can bat at number 4 in the upcoming World Cup 2023.
India now have a similar conundrum to what they had four years ago heading into the 2019 World Cup: the number 4 position.
The management and selectors are hoping that Shreyas Iyer, the incumbent number 4 who has done well in the past couple of years at this position, is fit for the Asia Cup and the World Cup. However, even if Iyer is fit for Asia Cup, what if he doesn’t find form straightaway in the Asia Cup and the 3-ODI series against Australia, will India still consider Iyer for the number 4 slot in the World Cup?
There are questions surrounding this debate. One answer for this is to push Virat Kohli at number 4, something which Ravi Shastri agrees with.
Virat Kohli has terrific record at number 4
The former head coach explained that maybe it would be best for the team to have one of their best ODI batsmen at number 4 and not expose him straightaway at the top, where, if a situation like the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand comes again in which India loses top 3 very early, Kohli can control the things from number 4.
Speaking with Star Sports, Ravi Shastri said: “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. Even in the previous two World Cups, when I was coach in 2019, I thought I might have discussed that with MSK [Prasad] as well of him batting at four just to break that top heavy line up.”
“You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we were gone and it was proved so. Just for that experience… And if you look at Virat Kohli’s record, he is good enough at number four,” Shastri added.
Early in his career, Virat Kohli did bat at number 4 as India had Sehwag, Tendulkar, and Gambhir in the top 3. At number 4 position, in 42 matches, Kohli averages an impressive 55 with 7 centuries to his name.
