The core of players is more or less sorted for World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli

Ahead of the first ODI between India and South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban, Indian skipper Virat Kohli reposed faith in his players while admitting that India’s core squad in the buildup to the next year’s World Cup is firming up. While he admits the paucity of time, given that the World Cup’s just year-and-a-half away, Kohli reiterated that he ‘will not compromise on the result’ in search of the right combination.

However, a persistent concern still remains for a suitable player to fill in the void at the No.4 slot. Kohli has hinted at playing Ajinkya Rahane on the position during the six-match ODI series against South Africa, that is set to start with the first game on February 1.

In the pre-match press interaction, Kohli said, “The core of players is more or less sorted. It’s about who takes up that one particular spot, it’s not even about the spots above and below. The guys who are given the opportunity need to capitalize and string in performances that convince the management and team very soon that they are suitable for that spot.”

Rahane will need to deliver results

A lynchpin in India’s batting lineup, Rahane has been the designated third-choice opener for a while now, filling in either of Rohit Sharma or Shikhar Dhawan. Of the 84 ODIs he has played, he batted as an opener 54 times while walked out at No.4 on 20 occasions.

Although the 29-year-old has received flak for his sluggish innings at the top of the order, a demotion down the order could actually do wonders to his ODI career, and help the Indian team find an anchor they are so desperately wanting. Albeit he failed at the No.4 spot during the World Cup in 2015, his performance at the same spot post the global event had been promising. His last four returns at No.4 read 47, 87, 89 and 50.

Rahane has ample experience of handling tricky situations and seems the ideal fit at the crucial spot, especially because the other candidates for the same, over the last year and a half, have been largely dismal.