IND vs AUS: There Won't Be A Discussion About Where Virat Kohli Will Play: Aakash Chopra

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra believes the Indian team management won’t change Virat Kohli’s batting position in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. In recent times, several former cricketers including Ravi Shastri have suggested that India should demote the former captain to the number four spot in order to make room for Ishan Kishan at number three.

Despite doing well in recent times, Ishan Kishan is not assured of a place in the playing eleven after the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. The wicketkeeper-batsman usually bats in the top order but was tried out in the middle order in the Asia Cup and did well. However, India are unlikely to play him in the middle order in the World Cup and he could be forced to warm the bench.

And while only time will tell how India line up in the World Cup, Aakash Chopra has opined that Virat Kohli should bat at his preferred and usual number three spot. In the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023, the batting superstar scored 129 runs at an average of 64.50 and a strike rate of 114.15. His best effort with the bat came against Pakistan when he smashed an unbeaten 122 off just 94 balls.

“There was a discussion before the start of the tournament, you would remember that Ravi bhai (Shastri) asked Virat Kohli to be sent at No. 4 because Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma should be the top three,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“A lot of people endorsed that as well. There won’t be a discussion about where Virat Kohli will play. If Ishan Kishan has to play, he will play at No. 4 or No. 5 only. He will not come up the order because Rohit, Shubman, and Kohli are your best top three, you shouldn’t touch them,” he added.

Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill’s batting position:

Aakash Chopra also said that Shubman Gill has cemented his spot as an opener too after the sublime century against Bangladesh. With Kishan doing well and Gill struggling for runs, there were suggestions from several quarters to replace the latter with the former at the top of the order.

“I think MSK Prasad was saying that we can open with Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill can be made to bat down the order or be dropped. Shubman Gill said that he is here to stay. The century he hit and the way he batted, there won’t be a discussion again about where Shubman Gill will play,” said Aakash Chopra.

India, on Sunday (September 17), thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to win the Asia Cup 2023. The Men in Blue will now lock horns against Australia in a three-match ODI series.