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‘Virat Is The Perfect No.4…,' Says AB de Villiers Ahead Of 2023 World Cup

image-llqq3jkhVirat Kohli with Rohit Sharma at the 2022 Asia Cup (Twitter)

AB de Villiers believes his former RCB teammate Virat Kohli is an ideal choice to bat at number four for India in the upcoming 2023 World Cup. The former South African captain said that Kohli has the ability to keep an innings together, and can play any kind of role for the team in the middle-order.

AB de Villiers wants Kohli at four for India

Virat Kohli has piled up over 10,000 ODI runs while batting at number three for India at an astonishing average of 60.20. Despite his staggering record with the bat, his ex-RCB teammate AB de Villiers believes that he needs to be demoted down to number four in the Indian batting line-up.

The legendary South African cricketer said:

“I feel Virat is the perfect No.4, can keep the innings together and play any kind of role in the middle order. I don't know whether he would like to do that role. But at the end of the day if the team needs you to do something and play a role, you got to put your hand up and go for it.”

Kohli last featured in an ODI for Team India was during their home series against Australia back in March this year. Despite playing in West Indies last month, the batting maverick did not take guard at the crease even once during India’s three-match series against the hosts.

With the returns of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer back into the side from injuries, coupled with Tilak Varma’s rise as a potential white-ball superstar, it remains to be seen if the India team management would consider a change in batting line-up at the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka.

Suryakumar Yadav is another exciting prospect in India’s star-studded batting pantheon, even though the right-hander has seen some struggles in ODIs off late.

In the meantime, the ‘Men in Blue’ are gearing up in Alur for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka, which itself serves as team’s testing ground for the subsequent ODI World Cup at home.

The Indian team will launch their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Kandy on September 2.