Kohli set for move up order

INDIA are approaching crisis mode with captain Virat Kohli under fire for a batting experiment that is set to be reversed as they grapple with a concussion blow to Rishabh Pant.

While captain Aaron Finch said he expected his counterpart to again bat at No. 4, Kohli was last night considering moving back to first drop, where he has played 180 ODIs.

Pant will miss tonight’s game and India chose not to replace the wicketkeeper with uncapped gloveman Sanju Samson.

It is understood specialist opener KL Rahul will instead stand behind the stumps, as he did after Pant went down during Tuesday’s game, and also slide down to No.4.

Finch rated Kohli “the best one-day player of all time” and was not surprised that the Indian leader chose to demote himself to No. 4 in Mumbai.

“The form Rahul has been in, he’s been smacking them,” Finch said.

“I think that’s why they went that way. He can be so damaging, and once he gets in he keeps going as well.”

Attacking leg-spinner Adam Zampa now has 4-126 from 97 balls to Kohli and Finch said he would turn to that match-up for the rest of the series.

“You always look at that match-up and try to get (Zampa) into the game pretty soon after,” Finch said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But he’s the best oneday player of all time, so I’m not sure he carries too much baggage walking out to bat.”

Zampa claimed Kohli’s wicket as the Aussies grabbed 4-30 to swing the match, and Finch was elated with the middle-order strikes that fit his team’s game plan.

“Zampa’s bowling straight, which is really important,” Finch said.