IND v ENG 1st ODI: Virat Kohli or KL Rahul at No 3? Tweeps Debate Who Is Better

Team India is all set to take on World No 1 team in ODI cricket, England, at their home in a three-match series starting July 12

By: Karan Nanda |
July 12, 2018 2:04 pm

Team India is all set to take on World No 1 team in ODI cricket, England, at their home in a three-match series starting July 12 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Eoin Morgan-led England side is coming into the series having crushed the Australians 5-0 in their last bilateral engagement. In a pre-match conference, English batsman Joe Root has warned the Indian cricket team as he stated that “England will be a difficult side to play especially at home.”

The Indian team, on the other hand, recently won the three-match T20I series by beating hosts 2-1 and are now used to foreign conditions.

Ahead of the high-voltage encounter, there is a debate raging on Twitter as to who is going to bat at Number 3 — Virat Kohli or KL Rahul. The latter showed magnificent batting while batting at No 3 in the recently concluded T20 series, including a century.

Kohli has been the best Indian batsman to bat at No 3 position. Be it runs, average, strike rate, number of the fifties and centuries, Kohli stands tall among the others.

Here are the stats:

	Matches	Runs	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	149	7495	28	36
Rahul Dravid	112	4000	7	27
M Azharuddin	68	2036	2	13
VVS Laxman	60	1966	6	9

Majority of the Indian fans are supporting Kohli to continue batting at Number 3 position. Here are some of the reactions:

So Rahul at 3, Kohli at 4 a permanent move for the ODIs too? Thats a World Cup winning decision 🙁

— Three Lions Fan (@CricAussieFan) July 5, 2018

Kohli should play at no. 3 in ODI *FULL STOP*

— krupa. (@EpicViratian) July 8, 2018

@vikrantgupta73 If Kohli sent K L Rahul in No 3 or 4 why not he sent Dhawan and Rohit on that position, after all three are openers.

— sunil singh negi (@negisunilnegi) July 12, 2018

I agree Kohli to play at 4 for only this series..All three matches, we’ve seen one opener getting out cheaply & no.3 coming just at 3-4 overs time..Rahul at 3 will feel as opener if it happens..but if no wicket falls till 10-15 overs,Kohli should come at no.3

— Sumit (@Sumit991005) July 12, 2018

Why not??? This is the right time to experiment. Kohli is versatile enough to play at No.4.

Rahul is good enough to play at No.3 and if it does not work out, it’s not the end of the world. We have another year to prepare for the WC. We’ll find a way out

— Rutuj RMCF (@rutuj_k_) July 12, 2018

Kohli is the ultimate innings builder the game of white ball cricket has ever seen, you want him to face as many balls as possible in 50 over cricket.
No. 3 seems a perfect position for him and I hope he plays there.

— cricket freak (@cricloverakku) July 12, 2018

Rahul slightly rapid scorer and kohli far better proven innings builder.
Rahul at 4 and Kohli at 3 id perfect for ODis.
You want a player who is consistent and dictates the game at no.3
Fiddling with that position is dangerous for the team

— cricket freak (@cricloverakku) July 12, 2018

Should keep it simple rather than messing up all the slots. Kohli has given up his no.3 to Rahul in the T20Is which worked. In ODIs, he should stick at 3 and do the trial and error with Rahul at 4. Top 3 must be untouched and occupied by your best 3, which is the case, currently.

— Jaanvi _ (@ThatCricketBuff) July 11, 2018

The 1st ODI between England and India will start at 5 PM IST. After the ODI series, Team India will play 5 Test matches.