‘No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time’ - Rohit Sharma addresses India’s middle-order woes ahead of ODI World Cup
"Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well," says Rohit Sharma.
There is no doubt that the Indian team is one of the most balanced sides in world cricket. However, quite a few years have passed since the side has found a dependable no.4 batter. With just a few months left until the ODI World Cup 2023, team India will be keen on sorting out their middle-order options as soon as possible.
In the same vein, the Team India skipper, Rohit Sharma, came forward to state that no one since Yuvraj Singh has been able to make an impact for India in the middle-order. India has experimented with many players as their main man in the middle order. However, not many have been able to make that position their own.
Rohit Sharma did name Shreyas Iyer as one potential option, as the 28-year-old has been impressive for the side in the middle order. With the World Cup looming around the corner, it could be interesting to see how the hosts fare with their lineup.
"Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi, 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. Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble; he has been out for a while and that is honestly what has happened in the last 4-5 years," Rohit Sharma said during an interaction arranged by La Liga in Mumbai.
The percentage of injuries that have happened in the last 4-5 years, it is massive: Sharma
Furthermore, Rohit Sharma also opened up about the side’s injury woes in recent years. Reflecting back to the 2019 World Cup, Rohit stated that the number of injuries that have plagued the Indian team has been massive recently. Many even lost their positions in the squad or their forms due to the injuries.
"The percentage of injuries that have happened in the last 4-5 years, it 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. Even before, when I was not the captain, I was watching no? There were so many guys who came in and went out. But injuries kept them away or they were not available or someone lost form," Rohit Sharma concluded.
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