Last Update on: January 14th, 2020 at 05:31 pm
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India skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to demote himself at number four in order to accommodate both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul in the playing eleven in the ongoing first ODI against Australia has not really paid off. The team-management had a big dilemma in front of them as Shikhar Dhawan has been a reliable opener for over six years now while Rahul has been in stunning form at the moment.
Starting from last year’s World Cup, Rahul was promoted as an opener whenever Rohit or Dhawan were absent and he rarely failed to perform. In India’s last ODI assignment which was against West Indies, Rahul scored a stunning century while Dhawan missed that one due to injury. With Rahul in such a good form, dropping him from the playing eleven made little sense and thus Kohli decided to alter the batting order.
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KL Rahul's gritty 47(61)
He came out to bat at No.3 and was once again impressive with his stroke-play.
📽️📽️https://t.co/YfpeY2lhrG #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/0Q7X322xwO
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2020
In a selfless move, the India skipper decided to give up his number three position and asked Rahul to bat there while Dhawan opened with Rohit in the ongoing game in Mumbai. But the move did not really paid off as India came up with a dismal batting display. The Men in Blue were all out for just 255 with Dhawan’s 73 being the highest score.
Rahul was the second highest run-scorer, scoring 47 while adding 121 runs for the second wicket with Dhawan. But once Dhawan and Rahul departed in a space of six runs, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were all out for a below par 255. Kohli, who came out to bat at number four, managed to score just 16.
Meanwhile, the fans were not at all impressed with Virat Kohli’s decision of changing the team’s batting order and blasted him for the same.
Here are some of the reactions:
India should fix no.4 position. Not fiddle with no.3 position unnecessarily & compound the problem. Kohli has been immensely successful at 3 & must retain that position. Don't muff up no.3 position in order to fix no.4. That's not how things are done. Don't fix that ain't broken.
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) January 14, 2020
KL Rahul performed well as an opener v WI
Shreyas Iyer performed well at 4 v WIVirat Kohli decided to accommodate his No.3 to Rahul
Rahul played for himself
Kohli moved out of his comfort zone
With him at 4 Iyer made to bat at 5All 3 failed in big time. @imVkohli Open ur eyes
— GK (@NipBackers) January 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/im_ram2/status/1217037783514132480
https://twitter.com/cricdrugs/status/1217034041465151488
https://twitter.com/Boomrah_/status/1216988048107327488
Delaying Kohli's innings by 20 overs and then both getting out. Tremendous banter from Rahul and Dhawan. Encouraging signs from an India side not always renowned for its comedy.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) January 14, 2020
Dont know why Kohli bats down the order. No need to be selfless. When team get benifit with Kohli at no-3 then what is the need to temper with the position ?#Kohli #ViratKohli #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS
— Deepak Joshi (@djlive5) January 14, 2020
Isn't it clear now that kohli playing at no. 4 is not good for the team with both kohli and iyer struggling at 4 and 5 respectively.#AskStar @cricketaakash @VVSLaxman281
— Pawansut Gautam (@Pawansut_Gautam) January 14, 2020
With the settled no4 of shreyas iyer…! Again creating the new prblm by messing up with settled team…! Kohli to no4 is worst strategy…!#INDvsAUS
— Adithya Vardhan (@Aadi191098) January 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/ImCM2903/status/1217048610694549506