Published: Aug 11, 2023, 09:53 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 11, 2023, 10:50 AM (IST)
INDIA opener Shikhar Dhawan picked his number four batter for the upcoming ODI World Cup. The batter picked Surykumar Yadav over Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma considering his current experience in international cricket.
India are struggling to find a batter for the No. 4 slot, something that has also troubled them in the 2019 World Cup which was played in England.
With question marks over the fitness of Shreyas Iyer, the number four position in the Indian ODI set-up is up for grabs ahead of the World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson are the contenders while R Ashwin thinks rookie batter Tilak Varma can be a good choice at that position.
“I would go with Surya at four as he is an experienced player and has been playing international cricket for a while” said Dhawan.
“Also, really looking forward to see how Shubman Gill does in the World Cup. Another batter to watch out for will be Rohit Sharma as he did exceptionally well in the last World Cup,” he said referring to Rohit’s five hundreds in the 2019 edition” Dhawan added.
On India’s chances in the World Cup, he added, “We have got a very good side which has the right blend of experience and youth. We will have the home advantage. We know the grounds and pitches and that is going to come in very handy.”
Rohit backed Suryakumar Yadav to find his form in ODIs, he also said India will have to see for how long they will keep backing the world No. 1 T20I batter, who has now been moved to No. 6.
“He is really working hard, and he is talking to a lot of guys who have played a lot of ODI cricket as to what kind of attitude and mindset (to have)… like that,” Rohit said.
“It is important to give a batter like him the cushion of extra games so that he finds that groove and gets that confidence. The way he started the IPL this year, in the first 4-5 games he did not have too many runs. But look what he did after that,” Rohit said.
“For a player like him, it is our job to create such a situation and scenario — ‘It’s okay, if you don’t do well in 2-3 games we are okay, but when you come off, we know that you will win games straightaway’.
“That is what he did in the third T20I, the batters at the top got out and for Surya to go and bat like that… it is a different format. But we will also have to see how long we can stretch this (having Suryakumar at No. 4),” Rohit said.
