ICC World Cup 2019: Kevin Pietersen not convinced with Vijay Shankar’s selection for the tournament

The selection of batting all-rounder Vijay Shankar as India’s No.4 batsman for the upcoming World Cup has raised quite a few eyebrows. Vijay, who would consider himself lucky to have made his ODI debut for India this January after all-rounder Hardik Pandya landed in an uncalled for controversy, pipped Ambati Rayudu to make the cut in the squad. Chief selector MSK Prasad said that the man was a good hand in all departments, calling him a “three-dimensional” cricketer.

The decision was a polarising one. While there were voices that did not endorse it, there were others who felt the Tamil Nadu cricketer was a good pick, given some of the gutsy performances he has shown in the few matches that he has played for India (nine matches, 165 runs, 2 wickets). Among those who did not find the decision worthy is former England captain Kevin Pietersen.

India have tried as many as 11 players at the No.4 position since the last World Cup 2015 and particularly after Yuvraj Singh lost the favour, the key position has turned into a musical chair of sort. Rayudu was backed as the potential No.4 player over the past several months but his poor form in 2019 saw him missing the bus eventually.

‘Batting at No.4 is difficult, even more so in England conditions’

But that doesn’t convince Pietersen to back Vijay. “I haven’t seen enough of Vijay Shankar to warrant a No. 4 slot for India in the World Cup. I have seen some great players bat at No. 4 for India and sadly, Shankar seems far away from it. Batting at No. 4 is difficult and even more so in English conditions. It is almost like Shankar and Jadhav have made it to the India squad because they can bowl,” Pietersen said on Star Sports during the post-match analysis show of the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday.

Vijay has been playing for Hyderabad in the IPL but hasn’t produced anything magical yet. Vijay, on the other hand, said it was a dream come true for him and that he was trying to keep things simple and focusing on consistency amid all the talks about the selection.

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