Former Indian bowler RP Singh has expressed his support for the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav in the ODI World Cup squad. The highly anticipated tournament will take place in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023.
Suryakumar Yadav batted at number three in the first ODI against West Indies but scored only 19 runs off 25 balls. Although he has been in top form in T20I cricket, Yadav has not been able to make the most of his ODI chances. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer, who is likely to be fit ahead of the World Cup, is considered the designated number four in the batting lineup.
KL Rahul is another player competing for the number four spot along with Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer. RP Singh, speaking to Jio Cinema, stated that both Yadav and Iyer are capable of fulfilling the number four role for India in the World Cup.
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“Suryakumar Yadav is a good option for No 4, along with Shreyas (Iyer), provided he is fit. But if you are looking at him even as a backup option, it is important to give him game-time, and he is certainly a good pick,” said RP Singh during an interaction organized by Jio Cinema.
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While Yadav has yet to establish himself firmly in the ODI team, having scored 452 runs in 24 matches, Shreyas Iyer is currently in rehabilitation for his back injury. The team management is eagerly awaiting his comeback, along with Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah.
RP Singh highlighted India’s lack of options at number four and emphasized the importance of having backup choices for a major tournament like the World Cup. Sanju Samson is another viable option for the number four spot, but the management seems hesitant to give him an opportunity. Samson was dropped from the team, with Ishan Kishan chosen as the specialist wicketkeeper-batsman. This decision drew criticism from Indian fans on Twitter.
“You must always have backup options heading into major tournaments. His current form in T20 cricket has been very good; the one-day format is different because you have to face more number of balls. Due to that, he will have to change his game-plan a bit,” RP Singh concluded.