Shreyas Iyer vs Suryakumar Yadav for No. 4 Spot: Virender Sehwag Feels SKY Yet to Prove Himself in ODIs

The India batting order has been in top form in the lead up to the ICC Cricket World Cup as was evident during the Asia Cup and the recently concluded ODI series against Australia.

The team though now is dealing with a problem of plenty with Suryakumar Yadav producing a blistering show with the bat against Australia at home. In the middle order, India already have the likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer who have scored centuries to show they are in good nick as well.

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Then there is Ishan Kishan who has shown he can bat anywhere and also rebuild innings if needed.

The X-factor Suryakumar Yadav brings through his free-spirited approach with the bat is tempting enough to include him in the playing eleven, possibly at no. 6. His inclusion though means the team will have to drop either Iyer from the middle order since Rahul is a certainty since he will also be donning the gloves behind the stumps.

However, Virender Sehwag feels that Shreyas has done enough to make the No. 4 spot his own.  “To adjust someone at no 6, why do you want to change the no 4 which is the most important position? Shreyas Iyer has just scored a century and he’s someone who can stabilise an innings if you lose wickets against the new ball and score big. So don’t disturb that,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

Sehwag added that Suryakumar is yet to show he is capable of reviving an innings and score hundred. “Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t played an innings like that in ODIs because all his runs have usually come in the last 15 overs. It’s like T20, no doubt it’s important but KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan can do the same job. So, in my view, Shreyas Iyer is quite fit for the no 4 slot. Suryakumar Yadav will have to wait. He will have to prove to selectors and management that he’s capable of scoring hundred,” he said.

Former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar agreed with Sehwag.

“When Shreyas Iyer has just scored a hundred, then why change anything? You have been planning this (batting order) for the past 2-3 years and when everybody is in form, then there’s no need for a change,” Gavaskar said.