Former Indian batter Virender Sehwag has given a strong statement regarding the middle order of Team India in the upcoming ODI World Cup. Sehwag feels that India will not include Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in playing as their initial choice.
India has finalized its 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup, and it features a formidable batting lineup. The top order is anchored by Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. In the middle-order, India boasts a range of options, including Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav which provides flexibility and depth in their batting lineup.
While speaking to Cricbuzz, Virender Sehwag said that even if Ishan Kishan is in great form, he won’t be picked into the team as the first choice.
“At No. 6 and 7 KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won’t be there at either of those positions. There is No. 5 though. But if Hardik Pandya is your sixth bowler then Rahul will bat at No. 5, and Hardik at No. 6, then comes the bowlers. We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays at No. 4 then it will be Iyer, Rahul, and Hardik at No. 4, 5, and 6 respectively,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
Sehwag also spoke on the selection of benched players and said that Ishan Kishan has an edge over Suryakumar Yadav.
“Now it depends on how India looks at this combination, whether they feel Hardik will certainly bowl 10 overs because that will give India an extra bowler. So then Suryakumar cannot fit in there and even if there is a slot, then Ishan should be picked ahead because he is a left-hander,” Sehwag concluded.
