‘If Virat Kohli has to bat at four…’: Ravi Shastri reveals strategy for No. 4 spot during 2019 ODI World Cup | Cricket News

The Indian cricket team succumbed to a bitter defeat in the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup against New Zealand. One of the major concerns for team India during the tournament was the No. 4 position in the playing eleven. Last evening, former India coach Ravi Shastri revealed that he considered using Virat Kohli at the spot while he was the head coach of the side.
Citing Kohli’s record at number four, where the star Indian batter scored 1767 runs at an average of 55.21 with seven hundreds, Shastri said that he wanted the top four to be flexible and Kohli was willing to bat wherever the team needed him.
“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,” Shastri said in a chat on Star Sports’ Selection Day show.
“Even in the previous two World Cups, when I was 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,” he said.
“You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we were gone and it was proved so just for reaching that the experience. And if you look at Virat Kohli’s record, he is good enough at number four,” said Shastri.