“I thought about sending Virat Kohli at No. 4 in 2019 World Cup”, Former Coach Ravi Shastri.

Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli established a dynamic partnership as coach and captain, characterized by their shared aggressive demeanor and aversion to defeat. This outlook significantly influenced the entire team, resulting in India’s emergence as a dominant force in Test cricket on foreign soil during their tenure. Notably, Shastri led the Indian team, which unfortunately experienced a semi-final exit in the 2019 ODI World Cup against New Zealand.

Shastri, recently shared his perspective in an interview. He contemplated the strategic move of positioning then-captain Virat Kohli at the No. 4 batting position during the 2019 World Cup. This strategic adjustment aimed to bolster the team’s middle-order strength and minimize the risk of becoming top-heavy. Shastri’s concern stemmed from the potential vulnerability India faced if they lost early wickets, a scenario that played out in the semi-finals when the New Zealand pacers wreaked havoc. Additionally, Shastri highlighted the impressive statistical performance of Kohli when batting at No. 4.

Shastri said “If Virat has to bat at four, he will bat at four in the interest of the side. You know, there were times I thought of it. Even in the previous two World Cups, when I was coach in 2019, I thought I might have discussed that with MSK [Prasad, chief selector] as well of him batting at four just to break that top-heavy lineup.”

“You know, because if we lost two or three at the top, we were gone and it was proved so just for reachingcr that the experience. And if you look at Virat Kohli’s record, he is good enough at number four.”