Should Kohli continue to bat at #3 in ODIs?

[zen]

Kohli has not been as effective as he was in the past. Below are his stats since 2022:

 

 

Career averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
unfiltered	274	265	40	12898	183	57.32	13776	93.62	46	65	15	1211	138
filtered	20	20	1	729	166*	38.36	715	101.95	3	3	2	71	13

 

* The avg is able to even touch 38 because of 100s v BD & SL. If we remove BD & SL:

 

 

Career averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
unfiltered	274	265	40	12898	183	57.32	13776	93.62	46	65	15	1211	138
filtered	14	14	0	319	65	22.78	397	80.35	0	3	2	32	2

 

 

Clearly not a performance of a top tier top order (#1-3) batsman. The top order is where your in-form batsmen, with the ability to play long innings when they get themselves in, are slotted. If the guys in the MO are expected to bat like the ones in the top order to bail India out, maybe a case to have one of those guys (or bringing in a fresh face) at #3, allowing India to slot in in-form players or develop the new players.

 

 

This brings up a few questions: 

 

1. Should Kohli continue to bat at #3 in ODIs? That is if he is expected to finally come good to play like a top tier top order (#1-3) batsman. 

2. If not, where should he bat, i.e. if his experience is considered too valuable for him to be dropped? (If not, should he be dropped?)

3. Who should be slotted in at #3? Options include Rituraj, Shaw, Jaiswal, Patidar, Samson, S Iyer, KL, SKY, Kishan, etc. 

 

 

Discuss. 

[Adamant]

Deepak Hooda should play at 3.

[zen]

Below is how those in the top order have done since 2022:

 

 

Opposition team Australia  or Bangladesh  or England  or India  or New Zealand  or Pakistan  or South Africa  or Sri Lanka  or West Indies

Start of match date greater than or equal to 1 Jan 2022

Batting position between 1 and 3

Qualifications runs scored greater than or equal to 500

Ordered by batting average (descending)

 

Overall figures

Player	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Babar Azam (PAK)	9	9	1	606	114	75.75	682	88.85	3	4	0	57	4
Imam-ul-Haq (PAK)	8	8	1	514	106	73.42	530	96.98	2	4	0	40	8
Shubman Gill (IND)	18	18	3	1017	208	67.80	950	107.05	3	4	1	113	25
TM Head (AUS)	9	9	1	519	152	64.87	429	120.97	2	3	1	62	15
T Bavuma (SA)	9	9	0	516	144	57.33	533	96.81	3	0	0	50	10
Q de Kock (SA)	14	14	1	594	124	45.69	560	106.07	1	3	0	70	12
DP Conway (NZ)	14	13	1	504	138	42.00	577	87.34	2	2	1	57	11
RG Sharma (IND)	15	15	1	569	101	40.64	532	106.95	1	4	1	65	26
V Kohli (IND)	20	20	1	729	166*	38.36	715	101.95	3	3	2	71	13
S Dhawan (IND)	19	19	1	534	97	29.66	725	73.65	0	5	0	61	7

Edited March 23, 2023 by zen

[Majestic]

Yes, Deepak Hooda should bat at 3, not Kohli. 

[zen]

Let’s see how Kohli’s form goes 

 

Edited April 14, 2023 by zen

[Insidious]

Kohli form is not an issue. He got start in every match but couldn't convert it into big one. Score 50+ in a match in which batsman from both the side failed. Does it suggest, he lacked form?. Kohli is least of our problem at the moment in LOIs. Problem is no.4.

[nitinbwj]

Doesnt matter. He is going to screw Ind again no matter where he bats. 

[Throwaib_Chuckter]

Based on his current consistency or inconsistency whichever angle you consider, Kohli could bat at (√-1).

Chuckte Raho

TC

[Moochad]

Yes, he can pretend to bat from there on the bench

[Lord]

at 4

 

Rohit

Jaiswal

Gill

Kohli

[mishra]

Question to be asked is, Is Kohli going to retire after upcoming world Cup? For me, This world Cup is time to say big Thank You to Kohli by winning it.

[singhvivek141]

He shouldn't, but he will continue to play.
There is a big portion of media which is hyping his possibility to reach 100 100's. That's enough to propel his career for 3-4 years.
Going down the order at no 4 will hit his chances as we play less ODI's, Tests are tough for him unless it's a flat pitch, same goes for T20's.

Unless someone pulls the plug, he will continue to play at his favoured place, just hope that others are ready to handle the load and play selflessly.

 

[IndiaWC8311]

He should and could open 

[Vijy]

On 3/31/2023 at 8:11 AM, singhvivek141 said:

He shouldn't, but he will continue to play.
There is a big portion of media which is hyping his possibility to reach 100 100's. That's enough to propel his career for 3-4 years.
Going down the order at no 4 will hit his chances as we play less ODI's, Tests are tough for him unless it's a flat pitch, same goes for T20's.

Unless someone pulls the plug, he will continue to play at his favoured place, just hope that others are ready to handle the load and play selflessly.

 

he is likely to play for 100 100s, even if it means playing till he is 40

[zen]

2 hours ago, Vijy said:

he is likely to play for 100 100s, even if it means playing till he is 40

 

Top Indian players in the past had the option to inspire a culture where personal records/milestones are not given importance, however, we went in the wrong direction in the 90s with Kapil pursuing a record that not many would take him seriously for (should break a record in less # of games/innings) and then Tendulkar with the 100 100s (another pointless milestone where the player actually slowed down to not only get the 100th 100 but also many other 100s) ... The only player, relatively speaking, whose record and personal milestone came relatively naturally is Gavaskar with 10K runs (first to achieve it) and 34 100s (going past Bradman's # but not necessarily a record as Bradman played far fewer innings). 

 

To change the culture and deliver a strong message to everyone, we need some players to retire on 99 tests, 399 wickets, 9,999 runs, etc. 

Edited April 1, 2023 by zen

[Sooda]

I thought he should bat at 4 at the last world cup, he was the solution to our no 4 issue back then. 

 

As for now if not him then who? isn't it too late to be grooming a newbie?

 

Get Shaw or Samson to open with Rohit , tell them to go hammer and tongs at it don't worry about getting out... Actually make use of the PP well for a change. Gill and Virat at 3 and 4. Or Rohit at 3 , but not sure how well that'd work.

 

Other point is this pushes Iyer to 5 and Hardik feels too low at no 6, don't think he has the range of strokes needed for teeing off from the get go