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Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar expressed concern over Virat Kohli’s prolonged slump in form on Thursday, saying the talented batsman needs to be dropped down the order so that he can regain his run-making ways.
Kohli registered his ninth single-digit score in his last 16 innings, scoring just two in the Wednesday’s first One-Day International against the West Indies, in Kochi, which India lost by 124 runs.
Gavaskar said the team management should make necessary changes when needed.
"Virat's loss of form is a huge cause of concern. A batsman who scores big suddenly starts getting single figures in front of his name is a worrying factor. There are, of course, a lot of technical issues with his batting. But I believe that he should be dropped down the order," Gavaskar told NDTV.
"Bring him at number four or five than the usual one-down position. Give him respite from the new ball. Let the openers give the team a bit of a start and that will allow Virat some cushion to come to the crease, settle down and then get going," he said.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company were hit by a Marlon Samuels storm on Wednesday, the batsman scoring a match-winning unbeaten 116-ball 126 which powered the Caribbean side to 321 for 6 in 50 overs, while batting first.
The visitors then restricted the Indian batsmen, bundling them out for 197 in 41 overs.
Gavaskar said that the management needs to keep an open approach in limited-overs’ cricket.
"You cannot be stubborn in limited-overs’ cricket. The team management should be very flexible in their approach. Just as Mohammed Shami, who is primarily a new-ball bowler, was brought in as first change, similarly a top-order batsman can be dropped down the order when needed," he said.
Image: Virat Kohli
Photograph: BCCI