Kohli at 4 for WC?

[bowl_out]

Is Kohli preparing for No.4 at WC? Do you think Dhoni and Kohli are preparing for Kohli playing at 4? This has been a rickety position, where Rahane and Rohit have failed in the past. With both of them doing well as openers, do you think Kohli is preparing himself to play at No. 4.. He has done that all through this series... Are we going to see a batting line up similar to WC 2011, with three openers playing at 1,2,3? Possible batting line up: Rohit Dhawan Rahane Kohli Raina Dhoni ..... others

[G_B_]

i feel if rahane does not open he does not play.

[JaFanatic]

Noooo he will most likely bat at no.3 from the cb series itself

[bowl_out]

Noooo he will most likely bat at no.3 from the cb series itself

That will push out Rohit or Rahane to 4... and both of them have failed there

[bowl_out]

The other alternative is to let Rayudu play at 4... and bench Rahane... which doesn't seem appropriate either :hmmm:

[Pagalpanti]

I doubt it, you don't want your best batsman to shift. He's got 17-18 centuries in that position.

[JaFanatic]

No.4 is the only spot I am not so convinced atm. Kohli at 3 and Dhoni at 6 gives us a better balance and none of Rohit Rahane and Rayudu are good at rotating the strike like Kohli or Raina. I'd so much expectations on Jadhav but I feel its too late for him to make a claim cos CB series should be used as a platform to find the right XI rather than trying out new players. But an extraordinary innings in the 5th ODI can still convince the selectors!

[sticky wicket]

Kohli shud remain no3 Rayudu spot likely under spotlight

[Austin 3:!6]

Yes please. My team vs Pak (15th feb) Dhawan Rohit Rahane Kohli Raina Dhoni Patel Bhuvi Umesh Shami Ishant

[cowboysfan]

no way in hell, Kohli should bat at 3 when it matters because he has shown time and again that he can maintain scoring and still survive if an early wicket goes down,i dont trust any others to do that.

[StriKe]

Kohli should play @ #3 only For CB series Dhawan Rohit Kohli Rahane Raina Dhoni *Insert player here* *Insert player here* Bhuvi Umesh Aaron/Shami

[bowl_out]

no way in hell' date=' Kohli should bat at 3 when it matters because he has shown time and again that he can maintain scoring and still survive if an early wicket goes down,i dont trust any others to do that.[/quote'] So, who plays at 4? Rahane, Rohit or Rayudu? If an early wicket falls, the batsman coming in, is as good as an opener. So any of the three openers in the squad can fill in for that position. We had Sehwag, Sachin, Gambhir play at 1,2,3 in WC 2011, and all of them were openers... Kohli played at No.4 .... Might see something similar happening this time too

[bowl_out]

Kohli should play @ #3 only

So, why do you mention him at 4 in your line up?

[rkt.india]

Rohit Dhawan Rahane Kohli

[vvvslaxman]

i feel if rahane does not open he does not play.

True that. He belongs to a very specific type of role.. His comfort zone is very narrow in one dayer. Outside that he could turn into a liability.

[vvvslaxman]

This would be like our attempt to push Sachin to no.4 in world cup 2007. When you are out of form it doesn't matter 3 or 4. That is what Kohli is going through. Nothing to do with batting order. He is the master builder of one day innings without risks. Difference between Kohli and the likes of Dhawan/Rohit,Raina is Kohli plays the best risk free cricket. Others are only a brain fart away from losing their wicket.

[Temujin Khaghan]

even in the epic scintillating innings by rohit at kolkota, he struggled to rotate strike in the first 15 overs how can you be an opener if you cant rotate strike regularly. even your partner will get affected. if rohit opens, he might hit a 200 once a year but if dhawan - rahane open, its good for the team also rohit cant keep hitting out bowlers over the fence all the time, eventually this is risky strategy whereas rahane and shikar are more timers into the gaps so Dhawan Rahane Kohli Rohit Raina Dhoni Axar Jadeja Yadav Bhuvi Shami

[Temujin Khaghan]

iam beginning to feel, rohit trolled us big time with that 264 hope dhoni's ego kicks in and he will retain rahane-dhawan becoz the whole world is pleading him to make rohit open

[vvvslaxman]

Srilankan fielding gave every single centurion chances very early. In hindsight Rohit could have gone for 4 runs in 17 balls.. That perera drop catch completely changed the dynamics.

[diga]

even in the epic scintillating innings by rohit at kolkota, he struggled to rotate strike in the first 15 overs

What if we are chaasing 300+ ? Can we afford Rohit as opener?