The Indian cricket team is currently struggling in its batting department in a big manner as the team management hasn’t been able to strengthen the middle-order of the squad. The team which lost the 5-match T20I series against West Indies had a long tail and there was no depth in Indian batting.
Injuries of star players have also made things difficult for team India and the former head coach of the Indian team, Ravi Shastri feels that there is one way of making middle order strong and that is to demote Virat Kohli from number 3 to number 4.
There is no denying the fact that Virat Kohli is one of the best batters who have batted at number 3 as he has scored 39 centuries out of 46 at that position and he averages around 60 at that spot. Virat has been batting at number 3 for around a decade now but Ravi Shastri feels that Kohli should adjust especially in upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023.
During a discussion, Ravi Shastri said that Ishan Kishan should be accommodated at the top (opening batter) and he should be the first choice for wicketkeeper as well. He adds that skipper Rohit Sharma has a lot of experience, he can bat at number 3 or 4 but it will be difficult for Shubman Gill to play at these positions. Shastri further says that no one in the team owns any position so if Virat Kohli has to bat at number 4, he will play at that position for the team.
Ravi Shastri also revealed that during the last two World Cups when he was the head coach of the Indian team, he thought of demoting Virat Kohli to number 4 because whenever the team loses 2 or 3 batters at the top, the whole team is gone. Ravi Shastri opines that in order to handle such situation, experience is needed which Virat has.
The former chief selector MSK Prasad who was also a part of the discussion confirmed that Ravi Shastri was thinking of demoting Virat to number 4 but that didn’t happen as the then skipper Virat Kohli batted at his preferred position.
In order to support his opinion more, Ravi Shastri says that Virat Kohli’s record at number 4 is quite good. Well, Shastri was pretty correct when he said this, the former skipper of the IPL team RCB has smashed 7 centuries at that position and he averages 55 in 39 matches that he has played at number 4.
Ravi Shastri says that every player has to evolve no matter how big a player is and he gives the examples of Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson in order to support his statement. Shastri suggests that Virat Kohli should try new things rather than following the same template throughout his career.
Do you also agree with Ravi Shastri that Virat Kohli should change his position? Let us know your opinion in this regard.