Virat Kohli has a brilliant record at the No.4 position in ODIs.
While Shreyas Iyer is the front-runner to fill the two-down slot at the World Cup, there’s concerns remain over his fitness after a back surgery.
Recently, Shastri opined that Kohli can excel at No. 4 as he used to bat in that position early in his career and also boasts an impressive record – 1767 runs in 42 ODIs at an average of 55.21 with seven hundreds.
While Shastri’s suggestion has been turned down by a number of former India cricketers, South African legend AB de Villiers has endorsed it as he also feels that Virat Kohli is equipped to bat at No. 4.
"We're still talking about who will be the No. 4 batter for India. I've heard some rumours about Virat possibly taking up that position. I would be a big supporter of that," De Villiers said on his YouTube channel ‘AB de Villiers 360’.
"I think Virat is perfect for No. 4. He can put the innings together, play any kind of role in that middle order. I don't know if he would like to do that. We know he loves his No. 3 position; he's scored all his runs there, but at the end of the day, if the team needs you to do something, play a certain role, you have got to put your hand up and got for it."
With the Asia Cup and the World Cup around the corner, India's middle order has come into the spotlight yet again.
The likes of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul may have been picked for the Asia Cup squad after a long injury lay-off, but their inclusion without testing fitness in a match situation is certainly a gamble that the selectors and team management have taken.
In fact, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed to media while unveiling the squad that Rahul has picked up a fresh injury niggle, which might rule him out of the first few matches of the Asia Cup.
India have named Sanju Samson as the back-up wicketkeeper with Agarkar explaining that the former would go as Rahul’s cover.
The Men in Blue will open their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2.