Team India faces a significant challenge in defining their middle-order lineup for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 due to the uncertain availability of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Despite various trials in recent matches, the team management hasn’t yet discovered the perfect combination. The middle-order dilemma is not new to Indian cricket, as a similar situation arose during the 2019 ODI World Cup after Ambati Rayudu’s exclusion.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri disclosed that he had conversations with then-chief selector MSK Prasad about potentially utilizing Virat Kohli at the number 4 position during the 2019 World Cup.
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“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,” Ravi Shastri stated in an interview with Star Sports.
Ravi Shastri emphasized that having someone like Kohli at number 4 could be advantageous if the top-order fails, providing stability to the innings.
“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,” Ravi Shastri added.
Kohli indeed boasts a strong record at Number 4 in ODIs, scoring 1767 runs in 42 matches at an impressive average of 55.21, including seven centuries. However, it’s unlikely that he will bat at number 4 in the upcoming tournaments.
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In recent years, India experimented with Shreyas Iyer, who performed well in the 20 matches he batted at the number 4 position, amassing 805 runs at an average of 47.35, featuring two centuries and five fifties. Yet, Iyer’s back injury has cast doubt on his place in the World Cup squad. The elegant batter is presently undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA, striving to regain fitness for the Asia Cup and World Cup.
