It Would be Silly to Demote Virat Kohli to Number Four - Ajit Agarkar

Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar stated that it would be silly to demote Virat Kohli to number four position in the ICC World Cup 2019. India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has said that Kohli could be pushed to number four in the upcoming ODI showpiece. Subsequently, Ambati Rayudu who bats at number four will get a promotion in the batting order and he can bat at number three.

In fact, chief selector MSK Prasad had also spoken on the same lines. However, not many former players agree with India’s head coach suggestion. Kohli has an immaculate record while batting at number three for India. In fact, it won’t make much sense to protect Virat Kohli in the batting order as he is the best batsman in the world.

Where Kohli will bat?

Kohli has scored 39 ODI hundreds and 32 out of them has come while batting at number three position. The talisman batsman has amassed 10577 runs at an average of 59.42. On the other hand, Kohli has scored 1744 runs while batting at the number four and has scored the remaining seven centuries at number four.

Ravi Shastri had recently said on Cricbuzz Kohli can bat at number four to add balance to the side.

“Someone like Virat Kohli can go to number four, and we can put a good number three to bring more balance to the batting line-up.”

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly had also once remarked that the best batsman in the team must bat the maximum number of deliveries.

“Those numbers tell you the story – 32 hundred at No.3. And yeah, the numbers still are good at No.4. But still, not at all. Why would you push your best batsman lower down the order when most of his career, the greatness that he has achieved at No.3 and he sets up the game or finishes off the game for India at that number. He is right in saying that I don’t mind batting at No.4, but I feel it will be a silly thing for India to push Kohli down the order. And not for batting KL Rahul at No.3. The top three are the reason why India are doing so well in one-day cricket. In middle-order, there are a few worries,” Agarkar told ESPNCricinfo.

Kohli has a great record at number three.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli had also shown his interest to bat at number four. Kohli said the template remains the same for him as he backs his game to get his team over the line.

“I’ve batted a lot of times at number four. I don’t necessarily try it out as I’ve done that a lot in the past. My game doesn’t change much from number three to four because the template is quite similar. In any given situation I try to play the game I know,” Kohli told reporters in Hyderabad.

Kohli has been at his best and he would like to deliver the goods in the ICC World Cup. Meanwhile, the second ODI between Australia and India will take place at Nagpur on 5th March.