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As India gear up for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, the team’s middle-order batting lineup poses an intriguing challenge. The depth and versatility in India’s batting options have led to a welcome conundrum. Players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have all demonstrated their skills in this crucial segment of the team.
Formidable performances in recent contests
India’s middle-order candidates have left a significant mark on the team’s recent performances. Kishan displayed his batting brilliance with a memorable performance against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023. Rahul, too, showcased his batting talent by scoring a splendid century against the same opposition during the Super Four round of the tournament.
Shreyas Iyer demonstrated his mettle by crafting a century against Australia in the second ODI in Indore. Yadav, a dynamic batter, delivered impressive back-to-back fifties during the initial games of the India-Australia series.
Selecting the standout performers
The task at hand is to choose best standout performers from this pool of talented individuals to form the middle-order batting lineup for the World Cup. The importance of making these decisions swiftly cannot be overstated, as a player’s role needs to be clearly defined before such a significant event.
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Sehwag’s perspective
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag offered his perspective on this selection conundrum, indicating that Suryakumar may not find a spot in the playing XI due to the presence of Rahul and Pandya. While he expressed initial ambiguity between Kishan and Iyer, Sehwag leans towards the latter for the No.4 position.
“At No. 6 and 7 KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won’t be there at either of those positions. There is No. 5 though. But if Hardik Pandya is your sixth bowler then Rahul will bat at No. 5, and Hardik at No. 6, then comes the bowlers,” Sehwag said to Cricbuzz.
“We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays at No. 4 then it will be Iyer, Rahul, and Hardik at No. 4, 5, and 6 respectively,” the 44-year-old added.
Sehwag’s queries regarding Pandya’s bowling capacity
Sehwag, however, questioned Hardik’s capacity to complete a full 10-over quota as a bowler for India, emphasizing its significance in determining India’s middle-order composition.
” Now it depends on how India looks at this combination, whether they feel Hardik will certainly bowl 10 overs because that will give India an extra bowler. So then Suryakumar cannot fit in there and even if there is a slot, then Ishan should be picked ahead because he is a left-hander which had happened in Asia Cup,” the Najafgarh-born cricketer ellaborated.
Sehwag’s take on Suryakumar’s unexplored potential
Sehwag also discussed Suryakumar, expressing that the batter has yet to unleash his full potential in the format. If Suryakumar gets an opportunity in either of the two warm-up matches, he must register a substantial century to boost confidence.
“Suryakumar hasn’t done anything big yet in ODI cricket. He only bats in those final 15-20 overs where he utilizes his T20 abilities which undoubtedly is important as well. But Hardik, Ishan, and Rahul can all do that same job as well. So Iyer is confirmed for No. 4. Suraykumar will have to wait and if he does get a chance at No. 4 he has to score a big hundred and show that he can also score a ton as well,” Sehwag concluded.
