India vs Windies 2018: Ambati Rayudu Performing Solid at 4 will Solve Middle-order Vows - Virat Kohli

The Indian captain, Virat Kohli feels Ambati Rayudu coming good with the bat would solve their middle-order conundrum ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Meanwhile, India will take on the Windies in Guwahati for the first ODI on Sunday (October 21st), and Virat made his intentions clear of batting Rayudu at number four.

Ambati fits at number four – Virat Kohli

Even in the Asia Cup 2018, Ambati was India’s number four batsman, and he didn’t disappoint. In six innings, Rayudu had hit 175 runs at an average of 43.75. Meanwhile, Virat feels the number four slot is the one the team has been trying to sort for a long time now. He says despite them trying too many players for the same position, they have failed to get one.

Now, with Ambati Rayudu in the ranks for the first two Windies ODIs, Virat is hopeful of him cementing the spot for himself. Ahead of the first ODI, the captain said,

“The only position we were trying to figure out was number four for a long time. We tried many players who unfortunately could not capitalise or cement their places in a way we wanted,” Kohli said ahead of the first one-dayer against the West Indies here on Sunday.

“With Rayudu coming in and playing well in the Asia Cup, it’s about giving him enough game time till the World Cup so that the particular slot will be sorted for us,”

Meanwhile, Rayudu had risen to prominence during the IPL 2018 where he had played for eventual winners, Chennai Super Kings. Being MS Dhoni’s go-to-batsman during the tournament, Rayudu amassed 602 runs at an average of 43 and a strike rate touching 149.75. Moreover, his performance saw him getting picked for the limited-overs series against England only to get dropped for failing yo-yo test.

I am following Rayudu’s game closely – Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, however, feels he’s been watching Rayudu’s game closely and that he can trust the Hyderabad batsman to be India’s saviour ahead of 2019 World Cup. The captain, in his interview, also mentioned Rayudu’s record at the top-level cricket is all but impressive.

“The team felt there — and I also watched him — that he (Rayudu) is designed to play that middle order batsman’s role. We feel that our middle-order is more or less balanced now,” Kohli said.

“We believe he is the right person to capitalise on that spot. He is experienced and has won many games for his state and also in the IPL. He has a great ODI record already for India. I think the batting order is sorted.”

Now with India scheduled to play 18-odd 50-over games before the mega event in England, Virat opined to get the team combination right. He says injury could dent anyone’s chances and because of which he would want more than one option for a particular spot.

“Now these 18 games would be to find the perfect combination that we want to take into the World Cup. Barring injuries or niggles, we want one combination to play through and through. Apart from bowlers resting here and there in the ODIs, we only changed the No. 4 slot because we wanted someone to cement the place,” Kohli reasoned.