Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav Credits: Twitter

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan feels Indian management should try to figure out the NO.4 player for India very soon or else it may lead to the center point discussion later this year similar to the 2019 World Cup.

India played Ambati Rayudu as a specialized batter before the world cup and suddenly replaced him with Vijay Shankar stating that he gives a “3-D” option to the team, as the idea failed miserably with the Tamil-Nadu batter ruling out of the World Cup in mid-way of the 2019 world cup.

zaheer khan
Zaheer khan Credits: Twitter

Once again with the Indian team’s No.4 position opened up for many contenders after Shreyas Iyer’s injury, the Mumbai Indian’s head of cricket Zaheer Khan wants the management to quickly sort out the issue of Number 4 and also stressed that it is important to find the back-up option for Shreyas Iyer as his availability is still unknown.

“You need to look a little at the batting order. You need to figure out at No.4 option again. It was something in discussion leading up to the 2019 World Cup and four years later we are having it again. Yes Shreyas Iyer was your designated choice but if he is going to be injured now for a longer time then you need to find the answer,” Zaheer Khan said

Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson are the two most eligible candidates for this role, but after the failure of Surya in the ODI series against Australia the doors are opened for fringe cricketers like Rajat Patidar and Rahul Tripathi who can make an entry through Indian Premier League 2023.

KL Rahul Wicket Was The Turning Point – Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan feels the wicket of Indian wicket-keeper KL Rahul was the turning point of the match against Australia in the final and deciding ODI in Chepauk. India was comfortable in chase before losing out to KL Rahul, followed by the dismissals of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav on  successive deliveries.

“For the larger part of the chase, India was in control. I think KL Rahul’s wicket at that stage was the start of the turning point” Zaheer Khan Said

India’s series loss against Australia ended India’s domination on home soil, where India hasn’t lost a single ODI series in the last four years in India. The Cash rich league is about the begin after the conclusion of IPL. India will take on the Baggy Green in the WTC Final 2023 at the Oval on June 7-11, team India lost the inaugural edition of the WTC Final 2021 against New Zealand.