5 Indian players who can solve middle-order muddle

India were pretty dominant throughout the world cup where Rohit Sharma was peeling off centuries after century, Virat Kohli scored 5 successive half-centuries, Shikhar Dhawan scored a match-winning century against Australia before being ruled out of the tournament and KL Rahul rediscovered himself opening the batting in the absence of Shikhar.

But other than the top order, there was a very minimal contribution from the middle order and the finishers. With India’s No 4 again in contention once Rahul started to open the innings, India never really found a settled middle order line up. For once when the top order failed miserably against NZ in the Semi-finals, the middle order was exposed and as it turned out they couldn’t bail India out of trouble.

As India slowly moves on from the world cup, the middle order conundrum is the first thing they will be eyeing to resolve. Today let’s look at the 5 players that can help India solve their middle-order misery and build a side which perhaps has no apparent weakness.

1. Manish Pandey

The first Indian player to score a century in the IPL, Indian cricket hasn’t managed to exactly get the best out of Manish Pandey.

He was touted as the next big thing along with Virat Kohli post the 2008 U19 World Cup. Due to a star-studded top order and the emergence of a few other young batsmen, Pandey didn’t get his chance. But when the opportunity arrived, he grabbed it with both hands scoring a match-winning hundred against Australia as India registered the highest successful run chase ever on Australian soil against the hosts.

Two poor back to back IPL seasons meant he was out of favour again for the national team but impressive performances against WI A has earned him another call up for India’s tour of WI. With a lot of experience on his side, he could be the one who solves India’s middle-order issue for a long time.