4 Players who could bat at number four for India
India has one of the strongest teams in the world at the moment. They have a strong balance between experience and youth. India is the team that possesses the two best batsmen and the best bowler in white-ball cricket. Yet, they came up short in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup. While India has a superb top order, their middle-order has let them down on numerous occasions.
For years, Indian fans and cricket experts have been divided on the identity of the Indian side's number four batsman. Since the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, India has tried 10 different batsmen at the said position but still hasn’t solidified that spot.
Preparations for the next World Cup needs to start now, and the biggest issue the team management needs to address is the number four position.
Hence, this post aims to highlight four players who could be a perfect fit at number four for India.
#4 Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey possesses all the essential qualities required of a number four batsman. He is calm under pressure, can rotate the strike, and is an incredibly gifted player of spin. Pandey should’ve been India’s top pick to bat at number four at this year's ICC Cricket World Cup. He was in great form leading up to the tournament. However, he has somehow found himself excluded from the ODI lineup.
Pandey’s batting is a joy to watch. He times the ball beautifully and can manufacture shots at will. The right-handed batsman will always be remembered for being the first Indian to score a century in the IPL.
He made his international debut in 2015, six years after his IPL bow. Despite performing well, he found himself in and out of the Indian dressing. Given that India is currently in desperate need of a number four batsman, they could turn to Pandey to fulfill that role.
Moreover, Pandey’s record at this position isn’t too bad. In 7 innings, he has scored 183 runs at an average of 36.60. Therefore, it makes sense to give him another chance to bat at number four. Given that the countdown has started for the next World Cup, this could be the perfect time for India to give him another chance at this batting position.