Skip to main content

Who Can Solve India's No. 4 Conundrum In Asia Cup 2023?

With exactly nine days left for the start of the 2023 Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce India's squad for the event on Monday. The squad announcement will take place during BCCI's meeting in Delhi, with both head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma part of the conversation. From Jasprit Bumrah's comeback in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland, to the fitnes off KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, the management will have plenty of tough calls to make before churning out the strongest-possible squad.

Rahul and Iyer's injuries has created a void in India's middle-order, with the management yet to finalise the no. 4 spot. Rishabh Pant would've been another option, but he too is out for a lengthy period, having suffered a car crash last year.

Iyer has scored the most number of runs for India at no. 4 in the current World Cup cycle, followed by Pant and Rahul. The Mumbai batter had establish himself as one of the most reliable batters, but an unfortunate injury now has the Indian team chasing shadows.

India's possible options at no. 4?

With Rahul and Iyer racing against time to be fit for the continental event, India will now have to pick between these four players -- Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.

Suryakumar Yadav is a prove match-winner when it comes to T20Is, but by his own admission, he has not able to replicate his riches in the One-Day Internationals. He averages 46.02 in T20Is, but only 24.33 in ODIs.

Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are expected to make the Asia Cup, but only of them is likely to be in the XI as a wicketkeeper-batter. While both have previously batted at no. 4, the performances have been anything but convincing fro both parties.

Tilak Varma has made a late claim for the no. 4 spot, following his debut tour of West Indies. Experts, Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri, have vouched for his selection. If he gets into the side, Tilak could be a strong contender for the role. 

Also, India's don't have left-hander in their middle-order, and Tilak ticks that box too.

Virat Kohli can also stake his claim for the role, having batted at no. 4 during India's triumphic World Cup campaign in 2011. However, he has only batted twice in that position.

While Kishan, who has an ODI double century to his name, is more likely to fill in, Iyer and Rahul will force him out of the team once they are fit.



source https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/who-can-solve-indias-no-4-conundrum-in-asia-cup-2023-4314400

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

156.7 Kmph Sensation Awaits India Debut, Bangladesh Start Life After Shakib

Pace sensation Mayank Yadav is expected to unleash his raw speed while the absence of India's T20 regulars will provide another opportunity to the fringe players in the three-match series against Bangladesh, beginning here Sunday. Having consistently generated speed in excess of 150kmph in his maiden IPL earlier this year, Mayank had drawn the attention of the cricketing world before a side strain ruled him out of the tournament. Usually, one has to prove fitness in domestic cricket to be considered for national selection but the 22-year-old has been fast-tracked into the side considering his special talent. The series against Bangladesh will be a test of his fitness and temperament. It is yet to be figured if he can display the same accuracy and control that he exhibited in the IPL. Besides Mayank, fellow Delhi pacer Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could also make their India debut over the course of the series. Nitish was picked for the Zimbabwe tour post the T...
Post a Comment
Read more

PCB Not Happy With Pak Star Over Social Media Post On Babar Snub: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not pleased that Fakhar Zaman questioned the selection panel's decision to sideline Babar Azam from the Test side. The panel dropped former captain Babar Azam when they announced the squad for the remaining two Tests against England in Multan and Rawalpindi. Zaman took to X to question the decision, inviting the ire of the PCB. "The top board officials are not pleased with the tweet sent out by Fakhar and relevant persons are having a word with him about it," a well-informed PCB source said. "It's concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn't bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on sa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gardner Shines Again As GG Register Six-Wicket Win Over UPW In WPL 2025

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball, leading Gujarat Giants to a comprehensive six-wicket win over UP Warriorz in their Women's Premier League match in Vadodara on Sunday. Gardner (2/39) claimed two wickets and then scored a stylish 32-ball 52, her second consecutive fifty, as Gujarat registered their first win of the third edition of the tournament, following a loss in the opening game to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Opting to bowl, Gujarat produced a clinical effort with young spinner Priya Mishra returning impressive figures of 4-0-25-3. Skipper Gardner, Deandra Dottin (2/34), and Kashvee Gautam (1/15) also played key roles in restricting UPW to 143 for nine. Chasing 144 to win, the Giants were reduced to 22 for 2 with opener Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalata back in the pavilion after UPW introduced spin at both ends. However, Gardner produced an inspired knock, adding 55 runs off 42 balls with Laura Wolvaardt (22) to resurrect the innings. Gardner struck t...
Post a Comment
Read more