Last Update on: September 22nd, 2023 at 10:15 am
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has made a suggestion regarding the batting order of the Indian cricket team in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. Sunil Gavaskar said that Virat Kohli should be positioned at No. 4, especially when early wickets fall with the new ball.
Virat Kohli scored 10,777 runs in 210 ODIs at an impressive average of 60.21, including 39 hundreds while batting at No. 3. Notably, the right-handed batter also had a good record at No. 4, scoring 1,767 runs in 39 ODIs at an average of 55.22, including seven centuries.
Team Has To Be Flexible – Sunil Gavaskar
In a conversation with India Today, Sunil Gavaskar highlighted that the Indian team suffered defeats in crucial matches when their top-order batters, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were dismissed early.
“(On batting order) Any team has to be flexible…but I don’t want to disturb the top order. I don’t think Rohit Sharma should be looking to bat down the order. Yes, you can look at having Kohli at No. 4, particularly, if a wicket falls early because the new ball can do some early damage,” Gavaskar told India Today.
“Every time India has lost, I think it’s that the fact the new ball in the first 10-12 overs, India have lost three or four wickets, and both wickets out of these wickets have been Sharma and Kohli, who’ve been the victims, so it’s difficult. Maybe, look at it depending on the situation,” he added.
Earlier, former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri revealed that the team management considered Virat Kohli to bat at No. 4 during the 2019 ODI World Cup. However, he batted at No. 3 throughout the tournament and scored 443 runs in nine innings.
All-Rounders Are Gonna Be The Key – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar expressed confidence in all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja for India’s prospects in the upcoming World Cup at home.
“(On Rohit & Kohli bowling) If they had been bowling quite regularly, yes, it could be good, but when you look at the successful teams in limited-overs cricket that have gone on to win championships,” he further added.
“For India, you’ll find there have been full of all-rounders, batters who can bowl and bowlers down the order who’ve contributed when they get to bat about six or seven overs, they’ve contributed good runs.”
“So, yes, I think the all-rounders are gonna be the key, so it’s good to see Hardik Pandya in the team. He’s the kind of player who is a game-changer along with Ravindra Jadeja. These two guys are going to be the key,” he concluded.
