Ahead of the Asia Cup 2023, team India started to receive various comments over their issues regarding filling the N0.4 spot. With many experts picking their favourite player for the spot, AB de Villiers suggests Virat Kohli would be perfect for the spot.
ABD Suggests Virat Kohli to Bat at No.4 Position
The Asia Cup is set to begin on August 30 and the event will feature the inaugural match between the host Pakistan and Nepal at Multan Cricket Stadium.
With the announcement of India’s squad for the Asia Cup, the inclusion of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer had solutions for filling up the middle order in the team’s batting lineup. India has been assembled at Alur, Karnataka for its final preparation for the event.
On this occasion, the former RCB player AB de Villiers suggests his teammate Virat Kohli for the middle-order solutions.
Virat Kohli’s batting record at No.4 is impressive as seven of his 46 centuries in ODIs come from the middle-order lineup. He had scored 1767 runs with an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66. But his last appearance in the middle order was the ODI match against Australia three years ago.
“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 feel Virat is the perfect No. 4, can keep the innings together and play any kind of role in the middle order,” said De Villiers.
“I don’t know whether he would like to do that role. But at the end of the day, if the team needs you to do something and play a role, you got to put your hand up and go for it,” De Villiers added.
“Pakistan and India are the favourites to win the Asia Cup. However, Sri Lanka have the ability to upset the bigger teams,” said De Villiers.
With the inclusion of Iyer and Rahul in the squad, the options have increased for the issue. The tournament could provide various opportunities to find a solution. However, the happenings show that Iyer will be filling the spot who has returned to action after rehab for back surgery. He has cleared his fitness tests.
With KL Rahul having niggle in his injury, he will be sidelined for two matches in the tournament where Sanju Samson will be in the main squad.
After the announcement of the squad, Rohit Sharma said, that every player should be flexible. He said, “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 to four years.”
India will be facing their arch-rivals Pakistan in the tournament on September 2 at Pallekele International Stadium.
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