Three options for India's Middle Order

Play Virat Kohli at Four and add a Top-Order Batsman

Virat Kohli began his career as a No.4, and there is certainly an argument that India’s captain should return to that spot. The Men in Blue have a paucity of natural top-order batsmen and they could play to that strength. It is an experiment that was briefly attempted (before being prematurely jettisoned) in India’s ODI series against South Africa in 2015.

By fitting in an additional top-order batsman, India would also be able to nullify the impact of traditional swing bowling, especially in English conditions. After all, both openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan (along with occasional lapses by Kohli) are vulnerable to quality pace bowling.

It would also allow India to play the likes of KL Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane in their natural spot as top-order batsmen. Both Rahul and Rahane are technically adept players who can handle English conditions- Rahane has a test hundred at Lord’s. The addition of such a batsman would reduce the pressure on Kohli to get a big hundred, especially in chases.

However, this approach may not be chosen by the Indian team management, simply because it may result in a misuse of Kohli’s generational talents. Kohli is one of the best batsmen in the world and you want him to bat as many overs as possible- placing him one spot down the order will not do that. Nonetheless, this is a move that the management should at least consider.