Mumbai: With less than two months left for the eagerly awaited ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has voiced his apprehension about the persistent struggle to find a stable batter for the crucial number four position in the batting order. The issue of a missing link at No. 4 has been a lingering concern for the Indian ODI side since the retirement of cricketing legend Yuvraj Singh. This predicament is raising serious concerns as India prepares to host the global cricket event from October 5 to November 19.
Addressing the media during a La Liga event in Mumbai, Rohit Sharma, who is set to lead the Indian team in the World Cup, acknowledged the challenges faced in filling the void left by Yuvraj Singh’s departure. He highlighted the lack of a consistent performer at the No. 4 slot, stressing that Shreyas Iyer had shown promise but injuries had hampered his progress.
“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 stated.
Rohit Sharma lamented the persistent injury woes that have plagued the team, leading to a revolving door of players trying to establish themselves at the critical No. 4 position. He emphasised that the high frequency of injuries to key players in crucial positions has been a significant hurdle for the team’s stability and planning.
“The percentage of injuries that have happened in the last 4-5 years is massive. When the players get injured or are not available, you try doing different things with different players-that is what I have to say about No. 4,” explained the Indian skipper.
Regarding the upcoming Asia Cup, set to commence on August 30 with an India-Pakistan clash on September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma conveyed that the tournament will provide an opportunity to assess players in a competitive environment. He expressed that the selection process would involve a through debate to determine the best possible combination for the World Cup squad.
“No one is an automatic selection; even I am not. We have this thing where nobody is guaranteed a spot. We cannot say that ‘you are there for all’ or things like that,” Rohit emphasised.
Sharma underscored the need for players to continuously compete for spots and prove their mettle. “We have got a lot of names there. We will see what the right combination is for us to go to the World Cup, but before that, we have the Asia Cup,” he concluded.
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