‘If Virat Kohli has to bat at four…’: Ravi Shastri reveals strategy for No. 4 spot during 2019 ODI World Cup

The Indian cricket team was defeated by New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup. The No. 4 position in the playing eleven was one of Team India's biggest issues during the tournament.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri said last night that he thought about deploying Virat Kohli at the place while he was the team's head coach.

Shastri stated that he wanted the top four to be flexible, citing Kohli's record at number four, when the star Indian batter scored 1767 runs at an average of 55.21 with seven hundreds. Kohli was eager to bat wherever the team needed him.

"If Virat has to bat at four, he will do so for the sake of the team." "You know, there were times when I considered it," Shastri stated during an interview on Star Sports' Selection Day broadcast.

"Even in the previous two World Cups, when I was coach in 2019, I thought I might have discussed that with MSK as well, of him batting at four just to break that top heavy line up," he explained.

"You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we'd be gone, and it was proven so just for gaining that experience." And, looking at Virat Kohli's record, he's good enough for number four," Shastri remarked.