Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden on Monday, 18 March, has joined Gautam Gambhir backing underfire Ambati Rayudu as India's number 4 batsman in the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. He has also suggested that the Indian team management sticks with Rayudu for the no.4 in the line-up for the showpiece event in England.
With the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup just 70 days away, India’s number 4 batting position is the hottest topic at the moment, as Indian cricket team has tried as many as 11 batsmen at this position over the period of 3 years with Rayudu getting the most chances.
However, none of the batsmen have shown their potential to be the clear choice for the no.4 slot for the 2019 World Cup, while Rayudu’s recent struggle in the white-ball cricket has put his place in danger, as the young all-rounder Vijay Shankar has been preferred over the Hyderabad batsman by many cricketing fraternities for the showpiece event in England.
But Hayden is still confident that Rayudu is the man who can give solid stability to India in the middle in the World Cup 2019, while said KL Rahul is not really a choice for the position in the line-up.
Hayden told Times of India, “Rayudu is my man. I can’t believe India is even questioning that. For so long, he has been so good. I don’t know why they are questioning, maybe because you need to speak about something before the World Cup. I don’t see Rahul taking that slot as much as I admire him. His time will come and if anything, he is more of a stand-by opener for me as opposed to the number four slot.”
Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting has opined that India should have tried Delhi Capitals' captain Shreyas Iyer in the Australia series as he can fit at the number 4 slot in the Indian batting line-up.
Ponting further added, “They tried a few even during the recent Australia series. Rayudu was there, Rishabh, Shankar. They could have also have tried Shreyas Iyer. He is a very good player. He has had a great domestic season. I am excited to catch up with him. It’s an interesting conundrum; maybe, they can fit in KL Rahul in that spot.”
On the other hand, Sourav Ganguly has suggested an off-beat choice in Cheteshwar Pujara for the number 4 slot, saying his prowess with the bat could help India in the World Cup 2019.
Ganguly signed off by saying, “See, I am going to say something that might not sound believable to many viewers and a lot of people might laugh at my suggestion. But for me, Cheteshwar Pujara should be India’s No.4 in ODIs. His fielding might be a bit weak but he is a very good batsman. I know people will be shocked by my claim but if you want a quality batsman who is better than the options India has tried of late, I think Pujara is the best choice.”
(With India TV/ Times of India Inputs)
