Virat Kohli explains why no.3 position is the best for him
Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli believes that he plays best at the number three position because, in past, he has always been regular at one down position, reports ESPNcricinfo. Kohli scored a brilliant 138 runs innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai which helped India level the series by 2-2 in Chennai.
He looked confident and no doubt, that he was at his best in Chennai. His aggressive and composed batting earned him Man-of-the-Match award in the match.
Kohli explained why he feels confident batting at number three. He said he gets to analyse the game well to play the calculated shots. His 23rd career ton and two back-to-back century partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina were evidence of his comfort at that position.
“The reason I feel at home at number three is because I have played a lot of games there, I think that's where I have realised what my game is at the international level - I played at No. 4 pretty later on.
“So I am pretty sure and confident of my own ability at number three, that I can stabilise the innings and hold one end so that the team can benefit from it. That's always my mindset, even when we look to chase a score.
“If I get in at No. 3, I have the opportunity to analyse what's going on in the game, look at the scoreboard and play my game accordingly and choose what bowlers to hit boundaries off at different times in the game. I've been able to execute that so I feel more confident that I can control the game better,” Kohli explained.
The 26-year-old elaborated more on the game plan of the Indian batsmen especially the top three. He talked about one batsman batting through the innings if one of the openers fail to adapt the playing conditions.
"As a batting unit, you need one guy to bat through. Of late, Rohit [Sharma] has been doing that job for us pretty well. That was the idea that I felt very good about in the last game that even if one of the two guys - Rohit and Shikhar [Dhawan]- don't work, at least I can have that mindset of batting through for the team," he said.
Kohli also denied the fact that Dhawan is out of form and said his fellow Delhite batsman is a big match winner and might prove very important in the final one-day international at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.