Asia Cup 2023: Aakash Chopra warns India of making Virat Kohli bat at number 4 - 'Just because he can...'

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Aakash Chopra has explained why India should not commit the mistake of making Virat Kohli bat at number four in the Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023. He has said that while Virat Kohli is good at number four, he is just exceptional at number three.

Aakash Chopra asserted that Kohli tackling new balls and batting till the end hold the key to India's success and that can only be achieved if he bats at number three.

“There are two parameters to judge this. First, Virat Kohli’s success at No. 4 is good, but at No. 3 it’s exceptional. A significant sample size reinforces this and his peak equals India’s best. Hopes rest on his tournament performance – if he does well, India benefits; otherwise, a middle-order gap looms. Kohli’s effectiveness shines at No. 3, tackling new balls and closing games. Retaining this is vital," Aakash Chopra said while hosting JioCinema’s daily sports show '#AAKASHVANI,’

Just because Kohli can, he should not bat at number 4: Chopra

Further, the former India batter stated that Virat Kohli should not bat at number four just because he has that ability to succeed in that position. He said it would be hugely beneficial for the opposition if the batting maestro comes to bat late in the innings.

"Just because he has the ability to bat at No. 4 shouldn’t mean that he should play there. We did the same thing with KL Rahul – he is originally an opener but is played at the No. 5 position and it has worked out, but that doesn’t mean we should follow suit for everyone. Secondly, what would the opposition prefer – Kohli coming out to bat after 25 overs or after 10 overs? The answer is to let him come out at No. 3, that’s what I believe," he added.

Kohli has played 210 innings while batting at number three and scored 10777 runs at an average of 60.20 and a strike rate of 94.70. The 34-year-old has batted at number four 39 times and scored 1767 runs at an average of 55.21 and a strike rate of 90.66.

India are facing a middle-order conundrum ahead of the Asia Cup 2023. KL Rahul has been ruled out of the first two matches, while Shreyas Iyer is returning after a long injury layoff. Suryakumar Yadav has repeatedly failed in the ODI format.