ODI World Cup 2023: Ravi Shastri bats for Virat Kohli to play at No.4

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels that star batsman Virat Kohli should play at No.4 to bolster India’s batting in the middle order in the upcoming World Cup to be played in India.

As per the former all-rounder, Ishan Kishan should be the first-choice wicketkeeper and opener and in order to accommodate him, skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Kohli should adjust.

Shastri feels that Rohit can bat anywhere in the top four. However, it might not be easy for Gill to adjust in the middle-order. Hence, Kohli can bat No.4.

“Ishan should bat right at the top of the order. Rohit as a captain is vastly experienced. He can go in at three. How will Shubman Gill feel if asked to bat No.3 or No.4 as opposed to batting at the top? No one owns a position. If Virat has to bat at four, he will bat at four for the team,” said Shastri.

“There were times when I thought of it even in the previous two World Cups. I might have discussed that with MSK of him batting at four, just to break that top-heavy line-up. If we lost two or three at the top, we were gone. And it was proved so just for breaking that, you need experience,” he added.