'Drop Rahul to 4' - Aakash Chopra suggests Team India's batting order for 4th T20I vs England

Team India will have their task cut out when they take on England in the crucial fourth T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Trailing the five-match series, India need to win the game at any cost to keep the series alive. A loss will see England wrap up the series with a match remaining. The momentum is with the visitors after their thumping eight-wicket win in the previous game.

England had come up with a fine all-round performance in the third T20I to beat India and take the lead in the series. Bowling first, they restricted the hosts to 156 for 6 before chasing down the total inside 19 overs by losing just two wickets. The kind of form England are in at the moment, it will be tough for India to get the job done. But the Virat Kohli-led side has shown it can bounce back and it will be looking to come up with another fighting performance.

Aakash Chopra’s suggestion

As India look to draw level in the series, former India opener Aakash Chopra has come up with some suggestions for the team regarding the batting lineup. India had changed their batting lineup in the third game despite winning the second game and the move backfired. Ishan Kishan was demoted to number three despite his impressive fifty on his debut.

The move did not pay off as the youngster could only score 4. Skipper Virat Kohli was also demoted in the third game. And while the skipper did score a fine fifty in the third game, his demotion saw India suffer a top-order collapse. India will be keen to avoid those mistakes in the upcoming game. And ahead of the game, Chopra has urged the team-management to open with Kishan and Rohit while demoting under-performing KL Rahul to number four.

Taking to Twitter, Chopra wrote that Kohli should bat at number three while Rahul should be demoted which might help him regain his form, writing:

“Since Ind is unlikely to field 5 bowlers, how about opening with Rohit-Ishan…Kohli at 3. And Rahul at 4? Dhoni had also pushed Kohli down the order vs WI after that nightmarish tour to Eng in 2014. Sometimes a little change is all you need to regain form. My two cents. #INDvENG”

Since Ind is unlikely to field 5 bowlers, how about opening with Rohit-Ishan…Kohli at 3. And Rahul at 4? Dhoni had also pushed Kohli down the order vs WI after that nightmarish tour to Eng in 2014. Sometimes a little change is all you need to regain form. My two cents. #INDvENG

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 18, 2021