In the crucible of international cricket, team strategy plays a pivotal role. Last week, former India head coach Ravi Shastri reignited a discussion he’d initially had in 2019. His suggestion? Virat Kohli should bat at No. 4 for India. Interestingly, this topic comes at a time when India is gearing up for the Asia Cup, and subsequently, the 2023 ODI World Cup. Current captain Rohit Sharma has openly stated that India’s No. 4 batting position remains a conundrum. Yet, cricket experts wasted no time in shutting down Shastri’s proposal, citing a brutal lesson from Sachin Tendulkar’s 2007 World Cup experience.
The 2007 World Cup is a sore point in India’s cricket history. Despite boasting a stellar lineup including names like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar, India faced an embarrassing group-stage exit. One major blunder involved moving Tendulkar to No. 4. He scored a paltry 7 and a duck, contributing to India’s downfall. Consequently, the fiasco is frequently cited as a cautionary tale.
On Monday, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar responded to Shastri’s idea during a Star Sports panel discussion. “Virat Kohli seems to have become the scapegoat,” Manjrekar remarked. In his view, pushing Kohli to No. 4 merely to accommodate other options like Ishan Kishan is a risky gamble.
Tom Moody, a former Australian cricketer who was part of the same panel, supported Shastri. However, Manjrekar quickly countered with the Sachin Tendulkar incident. He asserted that Kohli, like Tendulkar, is an iconic player who shouldn’t be displaced. “It’s ultimately up to Kohli,” Manjrekar added, acknowledging that the decision could carry enormous weight, especially if the 2023 World Cup is Kohli’s final appearance in the tournament.
Dodda Ganesh, another former Indian cricketer, shared his views online. He echoed Manjrekar’s sentiment, emphasizing that your “best batter” should maintain his customary position. “Remember what happened in 2007,” Ganesh warned, alluding to the Tendulkar debacle.
Cricket Experts like Sanjay Manjrekar Reject Shastri’s Idea for Kohli, Cite Tendulkar’s 2007 World Cup Debacle
As India prepares for the Asia Cup, starting August 30, there’s intense scrutiny on team strategy. Will the management consider Shastri’s idea of Kohli at No. 4? Or will they explore other options like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, or Shreyas Iyer? The Asia Cup could provide a glimpse into their thought process ahead of the World Cup.
“The more and more you talk about other options like Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli seems to get relegated. He has sort of become the scapegoat in the sense that you bat him at No.4 and all your problems are solved. There is also a cultural issue in Indian cricket. In 2007 World Cup when the team management of Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell sent Tendulkar at No.4 instead of opening because they had people like Virender Sehwag and others at the top of the order. But that became a huge controversy. So it is really up to Kohli, an iconic player, on whether he wants to bat at No.4. It seems like a perfectly simple solution, but it concerns Kohli,” said Sanjay Manjrekar.
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Cricket is as much about strategy as it is about skill. And in the cauldron of the World Cup, a single decision could make or break a campaign. The past serves as an ever-present tutor, reminding us that strategic missteps can have grave consequences. Shastri’s idea, though controversial, has sparked a necessary dialogue. However, given the cautionary tales from the past, it seems unlikely that India would risk its most iconic player in an untested role—especially in a tournament as significant as the World Cup.
So as the countdown to the Asia Cup and the World Cup ticks on, India’s No. 4 issue remains a hot topic, reminding us all of the high stakes and the intricate planning that goes into international cricket.
