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Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri (Source- Twitter)
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri reveals why he wanted Virat Kohli to bat at No.4 for the 2019 ODI World Cup. The Kohli-Shastri duo had very aggressive characters they hated losing games. They never give up attitude as India became a formidable Test squad away from home.
The 1983 World Cup winner recently revealed in an interview on Star Sports' Selection Day show, the former captain Virat might have batted at No. 4 in the 2019 World Cup, adding strength to the middle order rather than making the top orders a bit heavy. The former coach also pointed out that Kohli's numbers, batting at No. 4, are impressive.
If Virat has to bat at four, he will bat at four in the interest of the side: Ravi Shastri
The former captain stated, "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 the coach in 2019, I thought I might have discussed that with MSK as well of him batting at four just to break that top-heavy line up."
"You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we were gone and it was proved so just for reaching that experience. And if you look at Virat Kohli's record, he is good enough at number four."
The 34-year-old has impressive numbers batting at No.4, on 39 occasions he has batted at that position. He has 1767 runs while batting there with an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66. Kohli also has seven centuries and eight half-centuries while batting at this position.
With injury concerns of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup. Men in Blue used a variety of players in the West Indies tour, but none of them were able to establish their stance. The Indian selectors' top priority before the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup is to choose a reliable No. 4 batsman for the team. India will look at Tilak Varma as an option for that spot as he was impressive in his debut in T20I.