The number four position in limited-overs cricket has always been a tricky one. It serves as the bridge between the top and the middle order, with the batsman needed to step in when the team has lost two of its top batsmen. Either he has to adapt to an emergency situation when the top order falls quickly or has to come in during the later stages and build on the platform the openers have set with a hard-hitting knock.
For India, the number four slot has been a thing of worry for some years. The management and the selectors are yet to find a final solution to the answer, having tried many a batsman in that position. This deficiency was laid bare in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where they got knocked off in the semifinals by New Zealand.
With the India tour of West Indies in motion, we take a look at the top five players who can fit in that slot and aide India in the years to come.
SHREYAS IYER
Ricky Ponting was the first one to suggest Shreyas Iyer’s name for the number four spot. Iyer, who is the captain of the Delhi franchise in the Indian T20 League, had a great domestic season which made Ponting suggest his name for the most discussed spot in the Indian batting lineup. Iyer has garnered a decent record throughout his career and has also done well for India A against the West Indies A recently, scoring 187 runs in four matches. The right-handed batsman looks technically sound in his shot selection and is known to play wonderful strokes to get runs on the board.
KL RAHUL
KL Rahul was India’s first choice for number four in the World Cup. But after Shikhar Dhawan got injured and had to pull out from the tournament, Rahul was forced to open the batting for India, in which he excelled as well. Now, with Dhawan coming back into the team, he seems to be a great option. His form in the World Cup has been decent. Scoring a ton in the warmup game against Bangladesh, Rahul showed the intent to become a support system for the fancy Indian batting lineup.
MANISH PANDEY
Manish Pandey, mostly remembered as the first Indian batsman to score a century in the Indian T20 League, is another option that fits at number four. Though he last played for the senior side in 2018, he scored 162 runs in five matches that included a century In the recent India A vs West Indies A series. Making his debut way back in 2015, one can say that luck has not been on his side. He has been unable to cement his position in the team even after playing some decent knocks over the years and this tour can be a crucial one for him.
RISHABH PANT
Rishabh Pant came into the World Cup squad with a good reputation after two decent Indian T20 League seasons. Scoring 488 in the 2019 edition with a strike rate of 162.66, he caught several eyes. He did get some quick runs on the board for India but failed to stay at the crease when the team needed him the most. While trying to stick to his natural gameplay and looking to hit boundaries, Pant got out quite early. Thus, if he needs to make the position his own, he needs to showcase a patient mindset and couple it up with some mature gameplay.
RAVINDRA JADEJA
Undoubtedly the best fielder in the team, Jadeja’s contribution in the fielding department during the World Cup was remarkable. Though initially not selected, when he got the chance in the later stages, he showed his worth with both the bat and the bowl. In this West Indies tour, Jadeja is one of the senior members of the team alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Dhawan. Thus, all he needs to do is carry his form from the World Cup and apply his experience to stable the middle order. Though a surprise inclusion for this spot, his ability to hit big shots and play sensible cricket can just work in his favour.
Featured Image Courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar
