AB de Villiers shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli and India’s No. 4 issue during the World Cup.

NEW DELHI: Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has suggested that Virat Kohli could be the solution to India’s persistent dilemma at the No. 4 batting position for the upcoming ICC World Cup. According to de Villiers, Kohli possesses the adaptability and situational awareness to effectively navigate and anchor the middle order, potentially resolving the team’s concerns.

★Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers believes that Virat Kohli could be the solution to India’s No. 4 batting position dilemma for the ICC World Cup.
★De Villiers acknowledges that Kohli’s prime position is at No. 3, but if circumstances demand it, he should be prepared to rise to the occasion.
★India’s middle order has come under scrutiny ahead of the Asia Cup and the World Cup, with concerns around the fitness of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.
★Captain Rohit Sharma emphasizes the need for flexibility in the batting order, suggesting that players should be prepared to bat at any position.
★The No. 4 spot is likely to go to Iyer, who is recovering from back surgery, but Kohli has had great success batting at that number in the past.

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has suggested that Indian captain Virat Kohli could be the answer to India’s longstanding issue at the No. 4 batting position for the upcoming ICC World Cup. De Villiers believes that Kohli’s adaptability and situational awareness make him the ideal candidate to navigate and anchor the middle order.

While acknowledging that Kohli’s preferred position is at No. 3, de Villiers believes that if the team requires it, Kohli should be willing to step up and take on the challenge of batting at No. 4. He stated his support for Kohli in a video on his YouTube channel ‘AB de Villiers 360’.

India has been grappling with concerns over their middle order ahead of the Asia Cup and the World Cup. The fitness of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, who have been named in the squads despite being short of match practice, has raised questions about the team’s batting depth.

Captain Rohit Sharma has emphasized the need for flexibility in the batting order, urging players to be prepared to bat at any position. However, it is likely that Iyer will be given the No. 4 spot, as he is currently recovering from back surgery.

Kohli has a remarkable record batting at No. 4, with seven hundreds at an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66. However, he last batted in that position against Australia in January 2020.

In addition to discussing India’s batting order, de Villiers also shared his thoughts on the Asia Cup. He believes that Pakistan and India are the clear favorites to win the tournament, but he cautioned that defending champions Sri Lanka could pose a threat to the bigger teams. He also suggested that the underdogs in the tournament could spring a surprise victory over their more fancied opponents.

Overall, de Villiers’ endorsement of Kohli as India’s No. 4 batsman adds an interesting perspective to the ongoing debate. With the World Cup fast approaching, India will need to carefully consider their options and make the best decision for the team’s success.

(With ANI Inputs)