5 options, no solutions: 4 years on, India's No 4 spot hits roadblock 53 days before WC

The World Cup 2023’s initial squad submission deadline is 16 days away but the Indian Cricket Team are far from certain who will bat at No.4. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have as many as seven options to choose from calling for a chaotic few weeks leading into the tournament. It isn’t an uncommon sight, with the infamous AMbati Rayudu vs Vijay Shankar decision made before the last World Cup. This time around, there is no straight shoot-out. Shreyas Iyer, Kl Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill and now Tilak Varma have all thrown their hat into the ring.

Captain Rohit Sharma earlier this month admitted that finding a suitable No.4 had been a long-standing problem for Indian Cricket Team. While India had Virat Kohli for the 2011 WC, the management used makeshifts like Ajinkya Rahane and Vijay Shankar in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. When Shankar got injured, Rishabh Pant was named in the side. Pant, who would have been an option for 2023, is also out injured.

“Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), nobody has come and settled themselves in. But, for a long period of time, Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well — his numbers are really good,” Rohit told reporters in Mumbai earlier this week.

India had their 20-man shortlist ready heading into 2023 but injuries have set them back. Pant was ruled out, while Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul underwent surgeries. Rahul is somewhere close to full fitness, but doubts remain for Shreyas. The duo are unlikely to feature at the Asia Cup 2023.

India Squad World Cup 2023: No.4 conundrum

Shreyas Iyer: Recovering from injury, doubtful for WC 2023
KL Rahul: Under rehabilitation, could make comeback for IND vs AUS
Suryakumar Yadav: Struggled at No.4, has played at No.6 since.
Ishan Kishan: Averages 21 at No.4, has opened the batting in West Indies
Sanju Samson: Has batted at No.4 only once, scoring 51 in the IND vs WI 3rd ODI
Shubman Gill: Considered for a middle-order role should Kishan open. Yet to be trialled there.
Tilak Varma: Yet to make his ODI debut.

Shreyas Iyer averages 47.35 at No. 4, with two centuries and five fifties. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rested in 2022, Shreyas carried the bulk of run-scoring alongside Shubman Gill to help India win the series against South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. His injury has thrown the team into turmoil, with no ready-made replacement. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav have failed to make a mark.

In Shreyas’s absence, Rahul-Dravid has also failed to groom their replacement. Suryakumar Yadav has largely batted at No.4 but his numbers are below average as he himself admitted. Since then, SKY, a T20I maverick, has been batting at No.6 in the ODIs. Ishan Kishan, who played all 3 ODIs, opened the batting. The left-hander could be a potential middle-order pick but has only played there 6 times. He averages 21.

KL Rahul is the most obvious choice at the moment, having experience batting at No.4. He averages 40.16 at the position in 7 innings, with a century to his name. However, his injury uncertainty is also what makes the situation dire. Rahul last played a competitive game in May. Sanju Samson has had a handful of opportunities and the 28-year-old averages 55.21 in 12 innings in the format. However, he has only batted at No.4 once, scoring 51.

Such has been the desperation, there remain suggestions Shubman Gill could be considered for No.4. Gill has opened in all games in short career, averaging in excess of 60. Gill’s move to the middle order could facilitate Kishan’s batting at the top. While the move on paper sounds good, trialling it less than two months before the World Cup 2023 is appalling.

The final contender is young Tilak Varma. The 20-year-old left-hander made his debut in the T20Is vs West Indies, scoring 39, 51, 49* and 7* in his first four innings. Tilak showed maturity beyond his age and seamlessly adapted to international cricket. However, he is yet to make the grade in ODIs. Tilak offers a left-handed alternative in Indian Cricket Team’s right-dominated middle order.

The Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to be held just before the World Cup. Should Shreyas and Kl Rahul be fit, they are expected to make the cut. However, their injuries add to the uncertainty. Should they miss out, Gill could be given a shot in the middle order, while SKY and Sanju remain in contention.

Cricket