The middle order of the Indian cricket team is facing a void due to the absence of Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer. The management has yet to decide on the No. 4 position. The announcement of India’s squad for the 2023 Asia Cup is expected from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during a meeting in Delhi, involving head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma.
Tough decisions need to be made, including Jasprit Bumrah’s return, the fitness of Rahul and Iyer, and finalizing the strongest possible squad. Rahul and Iyer’s injuries have left a gap in India’s middle order, with no decision made on the no. 4 position. Rishabh Pant could have been an option, but he’s also unavailable due to a previous car crash injury.
Iyer has been the highest scorer for India at no. 4 in the current World Cup cycle, followed by Pant and Rahul. However, Iyer’s injury has thrown the team into uncertainty. The candidates for India’s no. 4 position are Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma. Suryakumar Yadav has been successful in T20Is but less so in ODIs. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are likely to be included in the Asia Cup squad, with one of them being the wicketkeeper-batter.
Tilak Varma has also emerged as a contender, supported by experts Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri, and his left-handedness adds an advantage. Virat Kohli might also be considered for the no. 4 spot, drawing from his successful role in India’s 2011 World Cup victory. However, he has rarely batted in that position. Ishan Kishan seems the more probable choice, but Iyer and Rahul will regain their spots when they recover.
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