Former India coach Ravi Shastri’s suggestion of placing Virat Kohli at No. 4 in the upcoming ODI World Cup has drawn a response from Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner outlined that for Kohli to take up this spot, it would depend on the fitness of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, who is recovering for the World Cup.
Should Rahul remain unfit, Ashwin envisions a situation where the Indian team would field backup keeper Ishan Kishan as an opener. This is a plausible move considering Kishan’s recent performance, having achieved three consecutive fifties in the West Indies ODI series.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “In the 2011 World Cup, Virat Kohli batted at number four. In reality, Ravi Bhai has stated that Virat Kohli should bat at number four if necessary. I believe he suggested that so that we might accommodate a left-hander.”
Ashwin further elaborated, “That is only possible if KL Rahul does not get fit, and when they need a keeper, they can open with Ishan Kishan. That is the only option because Shreyas Iyer is one of Team India’s go-to batters in ODIs.”
Kohli’s record at No. 4 is noteworthy, with 39 ODIs and 1767 runs at an average of 55.22. This includes seven centuries and eight half-centuries. In World Cups, at No. 4, Kohli scored 282 runs in nine matches, averaging 35.25, and his performance included a century in the 2011 World Cup.