Former India cricketers VVS Laxman, Sanjay Manjrekar and Harbhajan Singh on Tuesday did not praise the move of Virat Kohli playing at number 4 in the ODIs. Kohli usually bats at number 3 earlier but recently changed his place and pushed himself down the order to give place to the specialist openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul.

Dhawan opened alongside Rohit Sharma for many years now while KL Rahul came to bat at number three. However, this combination somehow did not go well as they faced a crushing 10-wicket loss at the hands of Australia.

“I don’t see this plan working (Kohli at No 4). Even Sachin Tendulkar never liked batting at No 4 (reference to the 2007 World Cup). The last team you would like to experiment against is Australia,” VVS Laxman told Star Sports.

“Now again it is too late to change the combination. But may be Virat can come at No 3 and Rahul at No 4. Shikhar got some runs and so will have his confidence high,” he said referring to Shikhar Dhawan’s 74.

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Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was also commentating on the game with Laxman, said Virat Kohli is the team’s best batsman and he should stick to his usual batting position no matter what.

“He has won so many games for India at number three. There is no need to change that,” said Harbhajan Singh.

On the other hand, Manjrekar said: “It is not a great move as it pushes Shreyas Iyer down to five after you gave him time to settle at number four (in the earlier series). If India continue with this, it might be pushed to the same situation that it was in the past.”

Virat Kohli came out to bat in the 28th over and fell very cheaply also.

“I would love it if I see Kohli comes to bat in 28th over,” former Australia opener Matthew Hayden added.