Middle order position, No.4 was India’s biggest problem in the 2019 world cup. After four years India is once again struggling with that same problem. World Cup is two months away and No.4 is still not decided yet. In this article, we will tell you about the top 5 contenders for the No.4 spot In the Indian team.
#5 Tilak Varma
Many will think Tilak Varma is not the right option now but the way he played since his debut against West Indies, selectors cannot keep him out. He is left-handed and can bat in the middle order very well.
#4 Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson can not only solve the problem of the No.4 spot, he can also resolve the wicketkeeper problem. His ODI stats are amazing but the only thing that is keeping him out of the equation is his consistency.
#3 Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan is looking very strong for No.4 in the absence of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. He performed very well in the recent West Indies series. He is also a wicketkeeper, a left-handed batsman who can provide a perfect balance in the batting order of the team. But he played most of his matches as an opener.
#2 KL Rahul
Although KL Rahul is a confirmed No.5 for the World Cup and Asia Cup in the absence of a strong No.4, he could ask to bat above at No.4. Rahul has amazing numbers in middle overs in One Day Internationals. He can also play the role of a wicketkeeper. But the only thing which is not going in his favor is the lack of enough game time before these mega-events.
#1 Shreyas Iyer
It was very unfortunate with Shreyas Iyer because he was a confirmed No.4 in ODIs before he met with an injury. He is still not confirmed for the Asia Cup and World Cup but he was a perfect No.4. He was India’s highest run scorer in ODIs in 2022 but his luck did not favour him in 2023 where he was mostly out from the international game.
