According to AB de Villiers, the renowned South African batsman, Virat Kohli skills in “constructing an innings” makes him an “ideal candidate” for the No. 4 position in India’s One Day Internationals (ODIs). De Villiers also believes that Virat possesses the capability to adjust to this role successfully.
India has been battling with a recurrent problem involving the No. 4 spot in ODIs, and this issue stretches back to the 2019 World Cup as well. Even during that competition, the squad was trying out numerous players at that slot. Following their tragic loss to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the World Cup, India’s journey was halted.
In the time period since the last World Cup, India has fielded a staggering 11 different players in the No. 4 spot in ODIs. The inability to locate a good applicant for this role has proven a continuous challenge.
Virat Kohli’s ability to “put the innings together” makes him a “perfect fit” for India’s No. 4 in ODIs as per AB de Villiers. De Villiers admitted that Kohli “loves his No. 3 position” but highlighted the need to be a team man with a World Cup approaching.
Talking about 2023, one item that continues to generate a lot of attention is the situation surrounding the cricket team’s lineup. This is especially true due to the terrible injuries of KL Rahul with a thigh issue and Shreyas Iyer coping with a back condition. These injuries occurred immediately before the much-awaited home event, slated to take off on October 5.
Bringing some great news to the forefront, both these batters have made a solid recovery and have been named in India’s squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup. This tournament carries tremendous significance as it serves as a forerunner to the World Cup, due to begin on August 30.
“We’re still talking about who will be the No. 4 batter for India. I’ve heard some rumors about Virat possibly taking up that position. I would be a big supporter of that,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
“I think Virat is perfect for No. 4. He can put the innings together, and play any kind of role in that middle order. I don’t know if he would like to do that. We know he loves his No. 3 position; he’s scored all his runs there, but at the end of the day, if the team needs you to do something, play a certain role, you have got to put your hand up and go for it,” he further added.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has made it quite clear that the team management is keen on having a flexible batting order. He emphasized that the batsmen should be prepared to adapt their roles based on the team’s requirements, without being confined to a rigid template.
“No one should say, ‘I’m good at this position or I’m good at that position’. You want guys to be able to bat anywhere, that’s the message conveyed to every individual. Not now, but over the last three-four years,” Rohit had told the press at the time of India’s Asia Cup squad announcement.
Virat Kohli has shown a remarkable performance while batting at No. 4 is absolutely amazing, with 1767 runs scored at an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66. This includes an astounding seven century, which certainly enhances the team’s confidence. However, because Iyer has made a complete recovery from his injury, it’s possible that he will return to his position in that role. Iyer’s stats tell their own story: he has scored 805 runs at an average of 47.35 in just 20 innings, with two centuries under his belt. At present, all three players – Kohli, Iyer, and Rahul – are actively engaging in India’s Asia Cup training camp located in Alur.
