Former India coach Ravi Shastri has revealed that he did consider using Virat Kohli at the number four spot during the 2019 World Cup while he was in charge of the side.

Kohli, who has been synonymous with the number three spot in ODI cricket, actually played 2011 World Cup, which India won, coming in at four. The star batter also has an impressive average while coming in at No.4 as well.

In the 39 matches he has played at No.4, Kohli has scored 1767 runs and has hit seven hundreds and eight fifties in the process at an average of 55.21.

While discussing India’s squad for the World Cup on Star Sports’ Selection Day show, Shastri said that he wanted the top four to be a flexible one and said Kohli will bat at four for the team’s cause.

The former India coach then said Kohli at No.4 was something he considered during the 2019 World Cup as he wanted to break the top heavy batting lineup the team had at the time. Shastri also said that Kohli had a good record coming in the fourth spot in ODI cricket.

“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 as well of him batting at four just to break that top heavy line up.”

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