Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli formed a great coach-captain partnership as they both were very aggressive characters who hated losing games. Their never-say-die attitude rubbed off on the rest of the players as India became a formidable Test side away from home, during their tenure. Shastri was the coach of the Indian team who were ousted in the semifinals of the 2019 ODI World Cup by New Zealand.
The 1983 World Cup winner recently said in an interview that he thought about the idea of sending then-captain Virat to bat at No. 4 in the 2019 World Cup to add more depth to the middle order instead of making the team top-heavy side. Shastri feared that if India lost two or three wickets upfront, they could be in a real spot of bother. That is exactly what happened in the semifinals as the Kiwi pacers wreaked havoc. The former coach also pointed out that Kohli's numbers, batting at No. 4, are impressive.
"If Virat has to bat at four, he will bat at four in the interest of the side. You know, there were times I thought of it. Even in the previous two World Cups, when I was coach in 2019, I thought I might have discussed that with MSK [Prasad, chief selector] as well of him batting at four just to break that top-heavy lineup," Shastri said on Star Sports' Selection Day show.
"You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we were gone and it was proved so just for reachingcr that the experience. And if you look at Virat Kohli's record, he is good enough at number four," said Shastri.
Virat Kohli's numbers while batting at No. 4
In ODI cricket, Kohli has almost become synonymous with the No. 3 spot, over the years, with the amount of runs he has scored, and matches he has won. However, on 39 occasions he has batted at No. 4, the Delhi batter has been able to stamp his authority. The 34-year-old has 1767 runs while batting at No. 4 with an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66. Kohli also has seven centuries and eight half-centuries while batting at this position.
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