The former Indian Test specialist batsman VVS Laxman feels Ambati Rayudu has sealed the no.4 batting position in India’s ODI squad.
Since the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, India has experimented a lot of in the no.4 ODI batting position. However, in recent times, Ambati Rayudu has achieved massive success in this batting position.
Recently, in the Wellington ODI against New Zealand, Ambati Rayudu played a responsible knock at the no.4 batting position. When India was struggling on 18/4, he played a match-winning knock of 90 runs off 113 balls.
VVS Laxman feels impressive on that innings and believes that Ambati Rayudu has sealed that vital position.
The former Indian cricketer recently said at WION Global Summit (Dubai), “Rayudu has been performing really well recently. He made his presence felt with a quality knock of 90 in the last ODI against New Zealand, with the knock emerging as a matchwinning one. Rayudu has sealed the position.”
MSD should play at the No 5 position
Talking about MS Dhoni‘s batting position, VVS Laxman feels that he should bat at no.5. The former cricketer believes that India has enough depth in batting line-up as Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya are also available. He also thinks that the Indian national cricket team has sorted out their playing XI in ODI format.
VVS Laxman added, “In my opinion, MSD should play at the No 5 position as he can anchor the innings well and finishes the game off as well. There is enough depth in the lineup with the likes of Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav available as well. I believe that the playing 11 is sorted out.”
VVS Laxman also lauded on the Indian skipper Virat Kohli. He credits Virat Kohli’s excellent leadership quality for the other players’ success in the national team.
VVS Laxman said, “Kohli sets an example which rubs off on the other players as well. The Indian team currently has an edge due to the improved fielding standards. This will help the team do well in tough conditions.”
India is peaking at the right time
The former Indian cricketer feels that India is ready for the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. India has shown the massive improvements in international cricket since their South Africa tour in early 2018. In that South Africa tour, India won the six-match ODI series by 5-1.
In this year, India won their back-to-back ODI series in Australia and New Zealand. After winning the three-match ODI series by 2-1 in Australia, India beat New Zealand in the five-match ODI series by 4-1.
Pointing out those successes, VVS Laxman said, “India is peaking at the right time. Their performances in the recent away series against Australia and New Zealand indicate that they can be world beaters. If the current Indian side emerges victorious in the World Cup, then they will have ticked all the boxes as they have done well in Test matches and ODI clashes as well. Their performance against South Africa in the ODI series away from home cannot be forgotten as well.”
England and Wales will host the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup from 30 May to 14 July. The two-time World Cup-winners India will start their World Cup campaign from 5 June against South Africa at Southampton.