“I don’t think Rohit Sharma should be looking to bat down the order, can look at having Virat Kohli at No. 4: Sunil Gavaskar on India’s batting order in upcoming big tournaments.

Ishan Kishan’s remarkable performance in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) has been evident, highlighted by his maiden ODI double-century against Bangladesh in December 2022. Notably, in the recent series against the West Indies, the wicketkeeper-batsman showcased his consistency by securing three consecutive half-centuries, resulting in him being awarded the Player of the Series accolade. This run of strong showings by Ishan has presented a welcome predicament for the Indian team management, who now grapple with finding a suitable spot for the young talent within the playing XI.In a recent interview, Ravi Shastri suggested the prospect of having Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma open the innings for India in the upcoming Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.

This idea, however, was met with dissent from Sunil Gavaskar. The cricket legend expressed his reservations about altering the established opening partnership of Rohit and Shubman Gill. Gavaskar instead put forth the notion that should one of the opening batsmen fall early, Virat Kohli could be positioned at No. 4. This strategic move would shield India’s vital batter from potential pitfalls posed by the new ball.Overall, the debate centers on how best to optimize India’s batting lineup given Ishan’s emergence and the existing combination of accomplished players. The final decision will likely be influenced by a balance between continuity and innovation, while aiming to capitalize on Ishan Kishan’s impressive form.

Gavaskar said “Any team has to be flexible, but I don’t want to disturb the top order. I don’t think Rohit Sharma should be looking to bat down the order. Yes, you can look at having Kohli at No. 4, particularly, if a wicket falls early because the new ball can do some early damage.”