Virat Kohli has often moved up the batting order and opened the batting for Bangalore, as we saw in the ITL 2021. He has had a good run at the top of the order, but former Indian player Wasim Jaffer wants him to bat at a different position.
As an opener, Virat Kohli scored 405 runs in 15 matches last season. However, the batting lineup for Bangalore looks completely different this time around. They have players with different approaches to the game. With AB de Villiers and KS Bharat no longer in the mix, Virat Kohli will have to play in the middle-order. Jaffer opined that Virat should bat at number three so that he doesn’t feel any pressure of scoring quick runs in the powerplay.
 “I prefer Virat Kohli batting at No. 3. I feel he can pace the game very well from there whether he comes to bat in the powerplay or after that. He’s somebody who takes some time initially and then his strike rate progressively goes up. In the powerplay, it seems as he forces himself a bit to hit by using the crease which I don’t think is his game. He’s obviously been successful as well but I think he plays better at No,” said Chopra to ESPNcricinfo
Jaffer also suggested that Faf du Plessis should open with Anuj Rawat in the upcoming season. Du Plessis has been very successful at the top of the order while playing for Chennai in the last two seasons.
“I also feel that Faf and Virat are similar kinds of players so Virat at No. 3 and Maxy (Glenn Maxwell) at No. 4 seems a better combination. Anuj Rawat, he’s a left-hander as well, bats in the powerplay for Delhi, opens in the [Syed] Mushtaq Ali [Trophy] – we could see him opening the batting and I would like to see Virat at No. 3,” he said.
Aakash Chopra also said that with no ABD in the team, Virat becomes even more crucial for the team. “When he (AB de Villiers) was there, they were assured he would handle the situation from No. 4 or No. 5. Of course, you have Dinesh Karthik but he isn’t AB de Villiers. You will want Virat Kohli to take the game deep and stay at the pitch till the 14th or 15th over. So I’ll say Virat Kohli at 3,” Chopra was quoted saying by News 18.
