Former cricket luminaries have raised doubts about Ravi Shastri’s proposition to place Virat Kohli at the No. 4 position in ODIs, invoking memories of Sachin Tendulkar’s experience during the 2007 World Cup. Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian team, had initially contemplated this strategy in 2019 and revived it recently, as India prepares for the Asia Cup and the forthcoming 2023 ODI World Cup. However, this idea was swiftly dismissed by cricket experts who compared it to Tendulkar’s unfortunate shift in the 2007 World Cup.
Ravi Shastri’s proposal was rooted in discussions he had with the then-chief selector MSK Prasad in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup in England. Despite not implementing the idea at that time, Shastri reiterated it recently, suggesting that Virat Kohli could fill the No. 4 role – a spot India has struggled to stabilize since Yuvraj Singh’s time. The proposition was met with immediate opposition from two cricket experts, who cited Sachin Tendulkar’s experience from the 2007 World Cup as a cautionary tale.
The 2007 edition of the 50-over World Cup remains a painful memory for Indian cricket. Despite boasting a lineup including cricket icons like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid (captain), Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, and Harbhajan Singh, India’s performance led to an early exit during the group stage, after defeats to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Notably, the decision to reposition Tendulkar at No. 4 was a major contributing factor to India’s dismal performance. This unexpected change disrupted the established opening partnership between Tendulkar and Ganguly. Tendulkar’s move down the batting order resulted in scores of 7 and a duck in two innings – both of which ended in losses for India.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar commented on Shastri’s suggestion, noting that Kohli seemed to be unfairly burdened as the “scapegoat” in the quest to explore other options like Ishan Kishan.
Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody, present in the same discussion, supported Shastri’s concept. However, Manjrekar swiftly reminded him of the Sachin incident, emphasizing the need for Kohli’s consent if such a significant change were to be implemented.
The cultural aspect of Indian cricket was also highlighted, with reference to the 2007 World Cup incident. The decision to reposition Tendulkar led to controversy and backlash. The final choice of Kohli’s position lies with the iconic player, considering his stature. Manjrekar stressed that while the solution might appear straightforward, it concerns Kohli’s comfort.
Another former India cricketer, Dodda Ganesh, echoed these sentiments, opposing the idea of moving the team’s “best batter” from his established position – particularly in a major event like the World Cup.
Your best batter should bat at his customary position where he’s had all the success. Not a fan of Kohli batting at no 4 just because the team couldn’t find a batter for these many years. Remember, what happened in 2007 WC where Sachin was asked to bat at 4 #CricketTwitter
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) August 21, 2023
As India remains silent about its World Cup strategy, the upcoming Asia Cup is anticipated to provide insight into the team management’s plans. It could unveil whether Kohli will indeed bat at No. 4, potentially superseding contenders like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, or Shreyas Iyer.
Also Read: The Asia Cup schedule for 2022 has been released
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