Time to bring Nitish at No. 4 because Kohli is not scoring at that spot: Basit Ali

Time to bring Nitish at No. 4 because Kohli is not scoring at that spot: Basit Ali (Source: Twitter/X and GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

India suffered a shambolic loss at the hands of Australia in the Melbourne Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The fourth match of the series, which was also the Boxing Day encounter, saw the Indians tumble in the fourth innings, and eventually could not save the match from a possible draw, losing by 184 runs. Next, the rivals will be up against each other for the last time in the series, as they gear up for the New Year’s Test in Sydney.

Notably, India are trailing 1-2 in the series, and a win is the only solution for them to remain alive in WTC Final 2025 qualification race. On the contrary, a win would confirm a berth for the Aussies, where they will face South Africa at the Lord’s in June 2025 for the ultimate test. In such a must-win game for both the sides, India’s batting has been receiving heavy criticism from fans and experts alike, and former cricketer Basit Ali has joined the conversation.

According to Ali, ace batter Virat Kohli’s form while batting at No. 4 has been disappointing, and the former Pakistan cricketer feels that someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a hundred in the previous game, should bat ahead of the experienced batter. He further suggested that Kohli should not be dropped, rather demoted to bat three down instead of two.

“Now is the team to bring Nitish up at No. 4 and Virat Kohli at No. 5 because he is not able to score at No. 4. He’s getting out on the same shot, if you are not able to score then drop lower down the order; Rohit is doing that but nobody thinking about Virat because everybody’s afraid, I think former coach Rahul Dravid will be missed,” Basit said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

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Kohli and Reddy performance comparison

Kohli, for the legend he is, has been having a struggling phase. After the hundred in Perth Test, his weakness to outside off-stump line has been eminent, and the batter has only been dismissed while edging such deliveries behind the wicket this series. The New Delhi-born has averaged 167 runs at an average of 27.63, which is underwhelming to say the least, and he’ll hope to bounce back stronger and better in the upcoming game.

Reddy, on the other hand, has been the second-best performer with the bat for the Indians, despite batting lower down the order in his debut series. The Vizag-born has scored 294 runs at an average of 49.00, and is also the third-highest run-getter in the series so far. He will hope to continue his amazing run in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground as well.