India’s fortunes in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup rely heavily on the leadership and batting prowess of Virat Kohli, as acknowledged by former cricket legends.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif has expressed concerns about the Indian team’s need for stability. He highlighted the frequent changes in the batting order and the return of injured players such as Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Addressing the team’s unsettled middle-order concerns, former India coach Ravi Shastri suggested placing Kohli at number four.
In a recent interview with a YouTube Channel, Latif stated, “The Indian team management has experimented with several players, especially in the middle and lower order (numbers 4 to 7). They haven’t allowed any new player to settle down. There have been too many changes.”
Currently, the selectors and team management are worried about the fitness of key players, including Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah’s involvement in the World Cup remains uncertain despite his return for the T20Is against Ireland after an injury.
“I would say it’s risky because KL and Iyer are returning from injuries,” Latif added.
‘Virat Kohli would be the solution’
Ravi Shastri provided a potential solution for the middle-order batting problem by suggesting that Virat Kohli be fielded at number four. This would address India’s longstanding concerns about a settled batsman in that crucial position.
“If Virat has to bat at four, he will bat at four in the interest of the side. There were times I thought of it,” Shastri told Star Sports channel.
“If we lose two or three wickets at the top, we are in trouble, and it has been proven. If you look at Virat Kohli’s record, he is good enough at number four,” he added.
Latif further commented, “If they had allowed Virat Kohli to continue as captain, India would have been 100 percent prepared for the World Cup by now.”
Kohli has accumulated the majority of his 12,898 runs, including 39 hundreds, while batting at number three in 212 out of 275 innings. In his 42 appearances at number four, Kohli has averaged 55.21, slightly below his overall average of 57.32, and has scored seven hundreds.
(With agency inputs)
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Updated: 17 Aug 2023, 01:02 PM IST
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
