What Should be Indian Batting Order in the World Cup 2023?
There is a debate going on concerning the number 4 position in Indian batting order. A number of players have been tried but nothing seems to give a permanent solution to this dilemma.
The unfortunate thing is it can create a loophole in the team if not considered carefully. There are all sorts of speculations about the Indian batting order with only two months left fron first World Cup match. Some say that team India should go with Suryakumar Yadav while after looking at Tilak Varma perform in recent matches, ex Indian players have suggested that Varma is perfectly fit in the position.
However, as Rohit Sharma said that Shreyas Iyer is on his way to attain fitness and once gets in, the space will not be vacant anymore. Iyer has done an incredible job playing at number 4 for India in last few years. If he was fit throughout, the debate wouldn’t even have existed about the position.
Shreyas Iyer at Number 4
Shreyas Iyer has played 20 matches for India at number 4 and has scored 805 runs at an impressive average of 47.35. Not only he has done it with an impressive average but his strike rate 94.37 and conversion rate, 2 centuries and 5 half centuries tell us that he is a complete number 4 player team India needs.
Iyer is a ball striker, very confident against spin and comfortable against pace. Yes, there have been issues with short balls in his career but considering the venues of World Cup, that will not be a big trouble. The most significant thing about his batting is he can lead the momentum, if top order provides a substantial start, he can definitely carry on that momentum and build up a match deciding innings.
KL Rahul at Number 5
KL Rahul is currently one of the most experienced batter in the Indian team. Only injuries have been stopping him to give that flair of a year or two in incredible form. Rahul has batted at number five 18 times for India and has scored 742 runs at an average of 53 which is spectacular. Again similar to Shreyas Iyer, there is consistency with 7 half centuries and 1 century as well the attacking mindset with a strike rate of 99.33.
KL Rahul has been tried at various positions and he has flourished most at number 5. In these 18 matches, he has played substantial innings against big teams like Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The diversity of KL Rahul’s batting really sets him apart from others. This is really a key point, on some pitches or in tough circumstances, there will be a need of sensible and cautious innings against the nature of play, KL Rahul has all the ability to thrive in that situation too.
An Ideal Playing 11 For Team India in World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
