India may use Rahane down the order

India skipper Virat Kohli has had a change of heart when it comes to how he intends to use Ajinkya Rahane in ODIs.
Having previously indicated that Rahane would be thought of as an opener to be used on slow surfaces but now seems open to his nominal vice-captain being used in the middle-order.
Kohli feels that the likelihood of quick bowlers being used for longer both at the World Cup in 2019 and in the upcoming series against South Africa make Rahane at 4 an attractive prospect.
Speaking ahead of the first ODI in Durban Kohli said: “I had said earlier that Ajinkya will be looked at as a third opener, but that situation can change because he has batted at No. 4 in a World Cup before.
“These conditions are such that you get to play fast bowling throughout the innings so he becomes a strong candidate for No. 4. Other than that we have Shreyas [Iyer], Manish [Pandey], Kedar [Jadhav] can play No. 5 and 6, Hardik [Pandya] is there, and MS [Dhoni] is obviously there.
“We have kept all these options open, we don’t want to be one-dimensional. It depends whose technique is more suited to what spot. Especially in that particular country. All options are open.”
Kohli knows that they have an issue at number four but has also indicated that multiple players will be given an opportunity to show they can fulfill the role.
ALSO READ: Duminy expects run-fest in India ODI series
He added: “It’s about who takes that one particular spot.
“It’s not even spots above and below. Guys who are given the opportunity need to capitalise and really string in performances that convince the management and the team very soon that that guy is meant to play at that spot for the team.
“I feel the core of players is more or less pretty strong at the moment. Obviously changes can happen at any stage. You don’t know whether someone is going to be in form or not or what the team requires at certain stages. How I see it, more or less the core is found.
“The lower middle order is more or less sorted. The combination is working well for us with Hardik and Kedar and MS rotating and batting together. No. 4 is something we have experimented with in the last couple of series. That is the only spot I can see that needs to be solidified otherwise the team looks pretty balanced.”
India play six ODIs against their hosts in South Africa.
Latest
-
News
ICC pressing ahead with plans for T20 World Cup in India despite Covid-19 spike
Acting chief executive Geoff Allardice says the ICC is “not anywhere near” activating any contingency plans.
-
News
Matt Parkinson takes positives from England tour despite lack of game time
Parkinson did not see competitive action in Sri Lanka or India.
-
News
Ponting sheds light on Smith’s Delhi Capitals role
Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has given some insight into where Steve Smith would fit into his side.
-
News
Akhtar ‘wouldn’t call De Kock a cheat’ but run-out not in the ‘spirit of cricket’
Shoaib Akhtar has had his say on Quinton de Kock’s controversial actions during the run-out of Fakhar Zaman.
-
News
Sarah Taylor set for playing comeback in The Hundred with Welsh Fire
Taylor put her cricketing career on hold in September 2019 when announcing her international retirement.
-
News
Eoin Morgan believes there is still room for all three formats
England 50-over World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan...
-
News
Ricky Ponting predicts big future for Prithvi Shaw
Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting is...
-
News
‘My experiences at Yorkshire were always good’, says Ajmal Shahzad
Senior players at Headingley “took me under their wing”, says the former fast bowler.
-
News
Bangladesh hopeful of hosting Sri Lanka despite lockdown
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remain hopeful...
-
News
Sachin Tendulkar hospitalised with coronavirus
The 47-year-old former India batsman tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend.