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Shastri ponders batting Kohli at number four in World Cup

Shastri wants to shield Kohli from a potentially dangerous new-ball spell in English conditions

In a bid to protect the team's biggest asset as well as bolster their under-fire middle-order, India head coach Ravi Shastri is considering batting captain Virat Kohli at the number four spot in the 2019 World Cup.

In an interview with Cricbuzz, Shastri revealed, "The good thing about this Indian top-three is we can separate them, if conditions and situations demand. Someone like Virat Kohli can go to number four, and we can put a good number three to bring more balance to the batting line-up. That's flexibility for you, and for big tournaments like the World Cup, you have to be flexible to see what's the best balance for the side."

When asked if the move was aimed at preserving Kohli's wicket in English conditions, the 56-year-old added, "Yes, maybe Rayudu, or someone else, could bat at number three, and Kohli comes in at number four. We wouldn't want to disturb the opening combination. Separating the top-three could make the batting stronger. But we will assess that on seeing conditions there in England. You don't want to be 18-3 or 16-4 in a big tournament. I don't care about bilateral ODIs, but why should I lose my best batsman early in a World Cup match."

Boasting of the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, India's top three have been remarkably prolific in the 50-over format during the course of the last five years. However, the longstanding struggles of the middle-order, as well as the fickle nature of conditions in England, could potentially see Kohli walking out at number four in crucial games in the World Cup.