With two months out from the World Cup 2023, India find themselves in a similar tangle as they were in heading into the 2019 World Cup: who will be India’s number 4?
While in the 2019 World Cup situation, India had dropped Ambati Rayudu on the eve of the tournament, and it was a problem they created by choice, this time, it is the injury to Shreyas Iyer, and that a couple of other batters not grabbing their chances have led them to this issue.
Here are 5 options for India have for the number 4 spot for World Cup 2023:
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer remains the incumbent for this middle-order position that is the number 4. However, Iyer is currently injured and is likely to miss the upcoming Asia Cup 2023.
Iyer has been brilliant at number 4 in ODIs: in 20 innings at this slot, Iyer averages 47 having notched up 2 centuries and 5 fifties.
The problem is that with Iyer likely to miss the Asia Cup, there will be only 3 ODIs – against Australia – before the World Cup that he could play, plus a couple of warm-up matches. India will have to hope that Iyer performs well in these matches and goes into the World Cup with some form and confidence.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has done the best he could do to make his case for selection in Asia Cup, and thereafter the World Cup as well. Samson has a terrific record in ODIs at the moment: in 12 knocks, he averages 55 – his average is, of course, boosted by him remaining not out five times – he’s hit 3 fifties, including an 86* against South Africa. However, Samson has not played against strong bowling attacks like England, West Indies, and New Zealand yet.
Suryakumar Yadav
That Suryakumar Yadav has not been able to crack ODIs yet is baffling to everyone because of what he’s done in T20 cricket at the highest level with unbelievable consistency.
In 26 ODIs, SKY averages a mediocre 24 with just two fifties. In 10 ODIs in 2023, he averages an even poor 14 with a best of 35.
It seems that SKY might just be out of contention for a while now in the ODI team, but you never know. He will need only one match-winning innings to get his mojo in the ODI format.
Rohit Sharma
This could be a big gamble that India might play in the upcoming Asia Cup, and if it succeeds, then we could also see Rohit batting at number 4 in the World Cup 2023.
Recently, reports have emerged that Rohit and Rahul Dravid are strongly considering pushing Rohit to number 4 in the absence of Shreyas Iyer in the Asia Cup. This will mean that Ishan Kishan will open with Gill. Kishan has done well as an opener – he recently cracked 3 fifties on tough pitches in West Indies, and last year smashed a double hundred in Bangladesh.
Rohit hasn’t batted in the middle-order since 2013 after his promotion as an opener. This could be a big and brave call if Rohit goes down to number 4; if it fails, he and the management will, though, come out looking foolish.
