'Dravid and Chappell sent Tendulkar at No.4': Manjrekar cautions Shastri over Kohli advice

With the Asia Cup 2023 about to start in a week's time and the World Cup 2023 also just around the corner, a displacement in the batting order or any experiment could prove to be fatal or considerable. However, the change in the slot of the batsman who has been a default number 3 for over a decade might be a brave decision. Nevertheless, former head coach Ravi Shastri is in favour of such a move. 

3 things you need to know

• Asia Cup 2023 to start on August 30, 2023
• The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will begin on October 5, 2023
• Team India is currently in Ireland, playing T20 series with the hosts

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Ravi Shastri sees Virat Kohli as the perfect number 4

Ravi Shastri, who was the lead behind the scene in India's 2019 ODI World Cup campaign, recently admitted to having an idea of playing Virat Kohli at number 4 position. The thought crossed his mind at the time of the 2019 World Cup. While he did not go through with the idea in the world cup but expressed that the move could solve many problems ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.  

"The more and more you talk about other options like Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli seems to get relegated. He has sort of become the scapegoat in the sense that you bat him at No.4 and all your problems are solved," he said.

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Sanjay Manjarekar reminds Shastri of the 2007 World Cup fiasco 

Shastri divulged his expertise during a Star Sports show, where Sanjay Manjrekar was also present. Upon noting Shastri's perspective, Manjrekar opined a contrasting stance. The former India player reminded Shastri, how the decision of sending Sachin Tendulkar down the order at number 4 did not pay any dividends in the 2007 World Cup.

"There is also a cultural issue in Indian cricket. In the 2007 World Cup when the team management of Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell sent Tendulkar at No.4 instead of opening because they had people like Virender Sehwag and others at the top of the order. But that became a huge controversy. So it is really up to Kohli, an iconic player, on whether he wants to bat at No.4. It seems like a perfectly simple solution, but it concerns Kohli," he added.

Another former India cricketer, Dodda Ganesh, took to X, and spoke on similar lines. As per Ganesh, the position of the best batter should not be medelled with.

"Your best batter should bat at his customary position where he’s had all the success. Not a fan of Kohli batting at no 4 just because the team couldn’t find a batter for these many years. Remember, what happened in 2007 WC where Sachin was asked to bat at 4," he posted.