Post the 2015 ODI World Cup, the ‘number four conundrum’ has haunted the Indian cricket team time and time again. As the Men in Blue prepared for the 2019 World Cup in England, the team management tried several options for the role but no player was able to make the spot his own.

Ambati Rayudu came closest to nailing the role and the then-India skipper <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/virat-kohli-is-a-much-bigger-alpha-than-me-faf-du-plessis-1776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> had also hailed Rayudu as India’s best option for the global tournament at one stage. Surprisingly, come the marquee tournament, India’s designated number four batter couldn't even find a place in the national squad.

Kohli &amp; co. started their World Cup campaign with KL Rahul picked to bat at two down but after Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured thumb, Pandora's box of India’s incompetence opened up, and the Men in Blue were seen trying to figure out the right fit for the number four slot at the grandest stage.

An inexperienced Rishabh Pant, who was not even on the team sheet at the start of the high-profile tournament was suddenly playing two down and was unable to do justice to the role.

Fast forward to the present, India's coaching staff has changed, the team’s captain has changed, and there are many fresh faces in the camp but one thing still stays the same ‘the number four conundrum’. The 2023 World Cup is approaching and the Men in Blue are far from solving the dilemma. Let us look at the players who could finally answer the question.

Here we look at the contenders for India's number four slot ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023:

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/we-support-you-lots-of-love-from-qatar-fans-sport-sanju-samson-banners-during-fifa-world-cup-2022-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a> is one of the top-drawer batters in Indian cricket. The 28-year-old has been among the prolific run-getters in the Indian Premier League and amassed 3526 runs in 138 matches at a strike rate of 135.72.

He has been a game-changer with the bat over the years but there has been a tinge of responsibility added to his eye-catching stroke play of late and it has displayed in the international arena as well.

In this calendar year, Samson has made six appearances for the Men in Blue in the shortest format and scored 179 runs at a strike rate of 158.40. Talking about the ODIs, the elegant batter has smashed 284 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 105.57.

Samson is someone who can swiftly switch gears and play as per the demands of the situation. The wicketkeeper-batter is an excellent player of both spin and pace and given he has fared well for India in the middle order, the team management will look to provide him game time at the number four position. The Trivandrum-born has all the potential in the world to thrive in the role.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/sure-it-was-another-video-game-innings-by-him-virat-kohli-on-suryakumar-yadavs-splendid-111-run-knock-vs-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suryakumar Yadav</a> has taken world cricket by storm from the time he made his T20I debut. The 32-year-old has put up an exhibition of his 360-degree stroke play and dismantled top-quality batting line-ups for fun. The Mumbai batter has featured in 42 T20Is and scored 1408 runs at a stunning strike rate of 180.97.

Amid his dream run with the bat, the ace batter has nailed India’s number four slot in the shortest format and the T20 World Cup 2022 was a prime example of how well he has aced the role. At the T20 extravaganza, the ace batter arrived at the crease with India two down and smashed 239 runs in six games at an insane strike rate of 189.68.

Though Suryakumar has not been at his best in the 50-overs format scoring 384 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.00, the ace batter has been in pristine touch and his numbers are expected to improve. Therefore, the 360-degree batter could solve India’s number four conundrum in the ODIs.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/in-words-and-actions-we-have-shown-full-support-for-kl-rahul-india-head-coach-rahul-dravid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul</a> has been quite prolific with the bat for India in the white-ball circuit. He has featured in 72 T20Is and accumulated 2265 runs at a strike rate of 139.12. When it comes to the ODIs, the 30-year-old has scored 1665 runs in 45 games at a strike rate of 87.86.

Rahul, who is India’s designated opener in T20Is, has adapted well to the middle-order role in the 50-overs format.&nbsp; When it comes to batting at two down, the flamboyant batter has scored 209 runs in six games at an average of 41.80.&nbsp;

The Indian vice-captain has the ability to read the situation and adapt accordingly. He can weather the storm when the team is in trouble and also has all the shots in the book to take any bowling line-up to the cleaners with his stroke play.

Rahul was looked at as the right fit for the number four role way back in the 2019 World Cup and given his batting prowess, the team management could stick with him in the build-up to the next year’s marquee tournament.

Pant’s stocks in the international arena have grown leaps and bounds since the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-world-cup-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019 World Cup</a>. From being a promising youngster hailing from Delhi to being India’s first-choice wicketkeeper across formats, the 25-year-old has come quite a long way.

The Haridwar-born has been a game-changer for India in ODIs and Tests and played some blistering knocks on the big stage. Pant has featured in 31 games in the longest format and scored 2123 runs at an average of 43.32. When it comes to the 50-overs format, he has played 30 games and scored 865 runs at a strike rate of 106.65.

India have tried the wicketkeeper batter at the number four slot in 16 ODIs and the swashbuckling batter has done a decent job scoring 492 runs at a strike rate of 97.61.&nbsp;

Pant provides a left-handed option in the middle order and can counter leg-spinners and left-arm off-spinners in the middle phase of the game. And given that he has fared well for the Men in Blue across formats, the southpaw could be a long-term prospect to bat two down in the ODIs.

When one talks about the contenders to bat two down for India, it becomes quite hard to look beyond <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shreyas-iyer-is-very-talented-but-needs-to-sort-his-problem-against-short-balls-scott-styris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shreyas Iyer</a>. The ace batter has been quite phenomenal in the 50-overs format from the time he first donned India’s jersey. He has featured in 36 ODIs so far and accumulated 1428 runs at an average of 49.24.

Iyer has steadied the ship when India have been in dangerous waters and anchored the innings beautifully. Also, the ace batter has an aggressive side to his game too and has put up an exhibition of his elegant stroke play on several occasions in the international arena.

The Mumbai-born has been been in amazing nick this year and scored 615 runs in 14 ODIs at a superb strike rate of 95.49. Given the form Iyer is in, the team management could look at him to ace the number four slot in the lead-up to the marquee tournament in 2023.

Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul

Post the 2015 ODI World Cup, the ‘number four conundrum’ has haunted the Indian cricket team time and time again. As the Men in Blue prepared for the 2019 World Cup in England, the team management tried several options for the role but no player was able to make the spot his own. 
Ambati Rayudu came closest to nailing the role and the then-India skipper <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/virat-kohli-is-a-much-bigger-alpha-than-me-faf-du-plessis-1776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> had also hailed Rayudu as India’s best option for the global tournament at one stage. Surprisingly, come the marquee tournament, India’s designated number four batter couldn't even find a place in the national squad.
Kohli &amp; co. started their World Cup campaign with KL Rahul picked to bat at two down but after Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured thumb, Pandora's box of India’s incompetence opened up, and the Men in Blue were seen trying to figure out the right fit for the number four slot at the grandest stage. 
An inexperienced Rishabh Pant, who was not even on the team sheet at the start of the high-profile tournament was suddenly playing two down and was unable to do justice to the role.
Fast forward to the present, India's coaching staff has changed, the team’s captain has changed, and there are many fresh faces in the camp but one thing still stays the same ‘the number four conundrum’. The 2023 World Cup is approaching and the Men in Blue are far from solving the dilemma. Let us look at the players who could finally answer the question.
<h3>Here we look at the contenders for India's number four slot ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023:</h3>
<h3>5. Sanju Samson&nbsp;</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1665077305487_Sanju-Samson.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/we-support-you-lots-of-love-from-qatar-fans-sport-sanju-samson-banners-during-fifa-world-cup-2022-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a> is one of the top-drawer batters in Indian cricket. The 28-year-old has been among the prolific run-getters in the Indian Premier League and amassed 3526 runs in 138 matches at a strike rate of 135.72. 
He has been a game-changer with the bat over the years but there has been a tinge of responsibility added to his eye-catching stroke play of late and it has displayed in the international arena as well.
In this calendar year, Samson has made six appearances for the Men in Blue in the shortest format and scored 179 runs at a strike rate of 158.40. Talking about the ODIs, the elegant batter has smashed 284 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 105.57.
Samson is someone who can swiftly switch gears and play as per the demands of the situation. The wicketkeeper-batter is an excellent player of both spin and pace and given he has fared well for India in the middle order, the team management will look to provide him game time at the number four position. The Trivandrum-born has all the potential in the world to thrive in the role.&nbsp;

<h3>4. Suryakumar Yadav</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1669046175777_Suryakumar-Yadav-2.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/sure-it-was-another-video-game-innings-by-him-virat-kohli-on-suryakumar-yadavs-splendid-111-run-knock-vs-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suryakumar Yadav</a> has taken world cricket by storm from the time he made his T20I debut. The 32-year-old has put up an exhibition of his 360-degree stroke play and dismantled top-quality batting line-ups for fun. The Mumbai batter has featured in 42 T20Is and scored 1408 runs at a stunning strike rate of 180.97.
Amid his dream run with the bat, the ace batter has nailed India’s number four slot in the shortest format and the T20 World Cup 2022 was a prime example of how well he has aced the role. At the T20 extravaganza, the ace batter arrived at the crease with India two down and smashed 239 runs in six games at an insane strike rate of 189.68.
Though Suryakumar has not been at his best in the 50-overs format scoring 384 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.00, the ace batter has been in pristine touch and his numbers are expected to improve. Therefore, the 360-degree batter could solve India’s number four conundrum in the ODIs.

<h3>3. KL Rahul&nbsp;</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1665992517279_KL-Rahul.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/in-words-and-actions-we-have-shown-full-support-for-kl-rahul-india-head-coach-rahul-dravid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul</a> has been quite prolific with the bat for India in the white-ball circuit. He has featured in 72 T20Is and accumulated 2265 runs at a strike rate of 139.12. When it comes to the ODIs, the 30-year-old has scored 1665 runs in 45 games at a strike rate of 87.86.
Rahul, who is India’s designated opener in T20Is, has adapted well to the middle-order role in the 50-overs format.&nbsp; When it comes to batting at two down, the flamboyant batter has scored 209 runs in six games at an average of 41.80.&nbsp;
The Indian vice-captain has the ability to read the situation and adapt accordingly. He can weather the storm when the team is in trouble and also has all the shots in the book to take any bowling line-up to the cleaners with his stroke play.
 Rahul was looked at as the right fit for the number four role way back in the 2019 World Cup and given his batting prowess, the team management could stick with him in the build-up to the next year’s marquee tournament.

<h3>2. Rishabh Pant</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1668930810204_Rishabh-Pant.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Pant’s stocks in the international arena have grown leaps and bounds since the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-world-cup-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019 World Cup</a>. From being a promising youngster hailing from Delhi to being India’s first-choice wicketkeeper across formats, the 25-year-old has come quite a long way.
The Haridwar-born has been a game-changer for India in ODIs and Tests and played some blistering knocks on the big stage. Pant has featured in 31 games in the longest format and scored 2123 runs at an average of 43.32. When it comes to the 50-overs format, he has played 30 games and scored 865 runs at a strike rate of 106.65.
India have tried the wicketkeeper batter at the number four slot in 16 ODIs and the swashbuckling batter has done a decent job scoring 492 runs at a strike rate of 97.61.&nbsp; 
Pant provides a left-handed option in the middle order and can counter leg-spinners and left-arm off-spinners in the middle phase of the game. And given that he has fared well for the Men in Blue across formats, the southpaw could be a long-term prospect to bat two down in the ODIs.

<h3>1. Shreyas Iyer</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1665330343202_Shreyas-Iyer.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
When one talks about the contenders to bat two down for India, it becomes quite hard to look beyond <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shreyas-iyer-is-very-talented-but-needs-to-sort-his-problem-against-short-balls-scott-styris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shreyas Iyer</a>. The ace batter has been quite phenomenal in the 50-overs format from the time he first donned India’s jersey. He has featured in 36 ODIs so far and accumulated 1428 runs at an average of 49.24.
Iyer has steadied the ship when India have been in dangerous waters and anchored the innings beautifully. Also, the ace batter has an aggressive side to his game too and has put up an exhibition of his elegant stroke play on several occasions in the international arena.
The Mumbai-born has been been in amazing nick this year and scored 615 runs in 14 ODIs at a superb strike rate of 95.49. Given the form Iyer is in, the team management could look at him to ace the number four slot in the lead-up to the marquee tournament in 2023.

Post the 2015 ODI World Cup, the ‘number four conundrum’ has haunted the Indian cricket team time and time again. As the Men in Blue prepared for the 2019 World Cup in England, the team management tried several options for the role but no player was able to make the spot his own. 
Ambati Rayudu came closest to nailing the role and the then-India skipper <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/virat-kohli-is-a-much-bigger-alpha-than-me-faf-du-plessis-1776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> had also hailed Rayudu as India’s best option for the global tournament at one stage. Surprisingly, come the marquee tournament, India’s designated number four batter couldn't even find a place in the national squad.
Kohli &amp; co. started their World Cup campaign with KL Rahul picked to bat at two down but after Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured thumb, Pandora's box of India’s incompetence opened up, and the Men in Blue were seen trying to figure out the right fit for the number four slot at the grandest stage. 
An inexperienced Rishabh Pant, who was not even on the team sheet at the start of the high-profile tournament was suddenly playing two down and was unable to do justice to the role.
Fast forward to the present, India's coaching staff has changed, the team’s captain has changed, and there are many fresh faces in the camp but one thing still stays the same ‘the number four conundrum’. The 2023 World Cup is approaching and the Men in Blue are far from solving the dilemma. Let us look at the players who could finally answer the question.
<h3>Here we look at the contenders for India's number four slot ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023:</h3>
<h3>5. Sanju Samson&nbsp;</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1665077305487_Sanju-Samson.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/we-support-you-lots-of-love-from-qatar-fans-sport-sanju-samson-banners-during-fifa-world-cup-2022-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a> is one of the top-drawer batters in Indian cricket. The 28-year-old has been among the prolific run-getters in the Indian Premier League and amassed 3526 runs in 138 matches at a strike rate of 135.72. 
He has been a game-changer with the bat over the years but there has been a tinge of responsibility added to his eye-catching stroke play of late and it has displayed in the international arena as well.
In this calendar year, Samson has made six appearances for the Men in Blue in the shortest format and scored 179 runs at a strike rate of 158.40. Talking about the ODIs, the elegant batter has smashed 284 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 105.57.
Samson is someone who can swiftly switch gears and play as per the demands of the situation. The wicketkeeper-batter is an excellent player of both spin and pace and given he has fared well for India in the middle order, the team management will look to provide him game time at the number four position. The Trivandrum-born has all the potential in the world to thrive in the role.&nbsp;

<h3>4. Suryakumar Yadav</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1669046175777_Suryakumar-Yadav-2.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/sure-it-was-another-video-game-innings-by-him-virat-kohli-on-suryakumar-yadavs-splendid-111-run-knock-vs-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suryakumar Yadav</a> has taken world cricket by storm from the time he made his T20I debut. The 32-year-old has put up an exhibition of his 360-degree stroke play and dismantled top-quality batting line-ups for fun. The Mumbai batter has featured in 42 T20Is and scored 1408 runs at a stunning strike rate of 180.97.
Amid his dream run with the bat, the ace batter has nailed India’s number four slot in the shortest format and the T20 World Cup 2022 was a prime example of how well he has aced the role. At the T20 extravaganza, the ace batter arrived at the crease with India two down and smashed 239 runs in six games at an insane strike rate of 189.68.
Though Suryakumar has not been at his best in the 50-overs format scoring 384 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.00, the ace batter has been in pristine touch and his numbers are expected to improve. Therefore, the 360-degree batter could solve India’s number four conundrum in the ODIs.

<h3>3. KL Rahul&nbsp;</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1665992517279_KL-Rahul.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/in-words-and-actions-we-have-shown-full-support-for-kl-rahul-india-head-coach-rahul-dravid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul</a> has been quite prolific with the bat for India in the white-ball circuit. He has featured in 72 T20Is and accumulated 2265 runs at a strike rate of 139.12. When it comes to the ODIs, the 30-year-old has scored 1665 runs in 45 games at a strike rate of 87.86.
Rahul, who is India’s designated opener in T20Is, has adapted well to the middle-order role in the 50-overs format.&nbsp; When it comes to batting at two down, the flamboyant batter has scored 209 runs in six games at an average of 41.80.&nbsp;
The Indian vice-captain has the ability to read the situation and adapt accordingly. He can weather the storm when the team is in trouble and also has all the shots in the book to take any bowling line-up to the cleaners with his stroke play.
 Rahul was looked at as the right fit for the number four role way back in the 2019 World Cup and given his batting prowess, the team management could stick with him in the build-up to the next year’s marquee tournament.

<h3>2. Rishabh Pant</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1668930810204_Rishabh-Pant.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
Pant’s stocks in the international arena have grown leaps and bounds since the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-world-cup-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019 World Cup</a>. From being a promising youngster hailing from Delhi to being India’s first-choice wicketkeeper across formats, the 25-year-old has come quite a long way.
The Haridwar-born has been a game-changer for India in ODIs and Tests and played some blistering knocks on the big stage. Pant has featured in 31 games in the longest format and scored 2123 runs at an average of 43.32. When it comes to the 50-overs format, he has played 30 games and scored 865 runs at a strike rate of 106.65.
India have tried the wicketkeeper batter at the number four slot in 16 ODIs and the swashbuckling batter has done a decent job scoring 492 runs at a strike rate of 97.61.&nbsp; 
Pant provides a left-handed option in the middle order and can counter leg-spinners and left-arm off-spinners in the middle phase of the game. And given that he has fared well for the Men in Blue across formats, the southpaw could be a long-term prospect to bat two down in the ODIs.

<h3>1. Shreyas Iyer</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1665330343202_Shreyas-Iyer.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
When one talks about the contenders to bat two down for India, it becomes quite hard to look beyond <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shreyas-iyer-is-very-talented-but-needs-to-sort-his-problem-against-short-balls-scott-styris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shreyas Iyer</a>. The ace batter has been quite phenomenal in the 50-overs format from the time he first donned India’s jersey. He has featured in 36 ODIs so far and accumulated 1428 runs at an average of 49.24.
Iyer has steadied the ship when India have been in dangerous waters and anchored the innings beautifully. Also, the ace batter has an aggressive side to his game too and has put up an exhibition of his elegant stroke play on several occasions in the international arena.
The Mumbai-born has been been in amazing nick this year and scored 615 runs in 14 ODIs at a superb strike rate of 95.49. Given the form Iyer is in, the team management could look at him to ace the number four slot in the lead-up to the marquee tournament in 2023.

Post the 2015 ODI World Cup, the ‘number four conundrum’ has haunted the Indian cricket team time and time again. As the Men in Blue prepared for the 2019 World Cup in England, the team management tri

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