MSK Prasad Echoes Ravi Shastri’s Idea to Bat Virat Kohli at No.4 in the 2019 World Cup

Feb 18, 2019 at 12:53 PM

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MSK Prasad Echoes Ravi Shastri’s Idea to Bat Virat Kohli at No.4 in the 2019 World Cup

The chief selector for the national selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), MSK Prasad has expressed the satisfaction and subsequently backed the idea of Team India head coach Ravi Shastri to play Virat Kohli at number four in the 2019 World Cup. He further attributed the proposal as a ‘wonderful thought’. Thus, Prasad expressed Kohli has been sensational at the No.3 spot.

“I think it is a wonderful thought that Virat Kohli can bat at No.4 and that is what Ravi Shastri has expressed. This has been happening for quite some time, but we will have to see. Because Virat has done extremely well at No.3,” Prasad said in a interview on HotStar.

The 44-year-old Prasad hailed the batting giant Kohli as the No.1 batsman of the contemporary cricket as the team management is mulling over the decision.

Eventually, in the cricketing circles, it has become a debate as many believe the idea may affect the batting line-up. So far, the Indian top-order has delivered goods while doing a bulk of the job for India.

Shastri hints of seeing Rayudu at No.3:

Ravi Shastri, Team India, 2019 World Cup
Ravi Shastri on Kohli’s position. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kohli last batted at the fourth spot in 2018 against the Windies. Shastri stated the separation of the top-three would provide the impetus and strengthen the batting line-up. He added Ambati Rayudu could find the third spot ahead of Kohli.

“Maybe Rayudu, or someone else, could bat at number three, and Kohli comes in at number four. We wouldn’t want to disturb the opening combination. Separating the top-three could make the batting stronger,” earlier Shastri told Cricbuzz.

In the recent past, the 30-year-old Kohli has achieved milestones while shouldering the responsibility at crucial one drop position. However, his position is subjected to the requirement in the quadrennial event, starting on May 30 in England and Wales.

“He is the No.1 batsman in the world. But if it is for the requirement of the team and Virat has to come at No.4 he will definitely do it. But again, we will have to see what the team requires and what the dynamics of the team is. That will decide his batting position,” Prasad said in a recent interview on Hotstar.

Since 2011, Kohli has owned the third spot as his batting average reads as staggering 62.98. He further slammed 32 tons.

Apart from the third spot, his numbers at the fourth position are equally remarkable while averaging at 58.13. He has amassed 1744 runs while attributing it with seven centuries.

Prasad reveals India is in good stead and they’re capable of swapping the positions according to the demand. While considering the ODI showpiece, Prasad stressed they’re looking forward to the option within the batting line-up.

MSK Prasad sets focus on flexibility:

Virat Kohli, MSK Prasad, Ravi Shastri, 2019 World Cup
MSK Prasad chaired a meet on February 15 to announced Team India squad for home series. Photo Credit: BCCI.

Meanwhile, the batting core is formed at the top by opening pair Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. He added the English conditions would further decide upon the changes

“The good thing about this Indian top-three is we can separate them, if conditions and situations demand. 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. That’s flexibility for you, and for big tournaments like the World Cup, you have to be flexible to see what’s the best balance for the side. So we will decide that (in England),” Prasad added.

The right-handed Kohli is backed by his staggering numbers while donning the national colours. During his 11-year-long career, Kohli has slammed 39 hundreds as he aggregated the total of 10,533 in 22 ODIs at the impressive average of 59.50.

India will kick off their campaign against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton.

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