‘Horses For Courses’: Who Can Challenge Shankar For No 4 Spot?

Vijay Shankar has hardly made a case for himself with the bat at the recently concluded Indian Premier League.

File picture of MS Dhoni, KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik.

(Photo: Altered The Quint)

Exactly two weeks to go for the World Cup and still we don’t know who is going to bat for India at the number four position. The selectors and the Indian team management don’t seem to be on the same page regarding the number four debate.

BCCI’s selection committee said that Vijay Shankar was a strong probable candidate for the number four spot. In fact, chief selector MSK Prasad lauded Shankar for his “three-dimensional” quality, as he was preferred over Ambati Rayudu.

Meanwhile, speaking to CricketNext earlier this week, Team India coach Ravi Shastri didn’t even mention Shankar’s name for the number four spot, instead said that they have plenty of options who can bat at number four.

“… We are a flexible team. Its horses for courses, we have got enough ammunition there, enough players who can bat at 4. So, I am not really worried about that.”

Ravi Shastri

To make matter murkier, Shankar hardly made a case for himself with the bat at the recently concluded Indian Premier League.

Here’s a look at the different options available to the ‘flexible’ Team India that might challenge Shankar for the number four spot:

KL Rahul

KL Rahul has been the highest run getter in IPL 2019 after Australia’s David Warner. (Photo: BCCI)

Rahul would be travelling to England as the back-up opener. But with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma at the top of the order, there are high chances Rahul may never get an opportunity to open the innings. Instead of wasting a talent like Rahul, Team India can employ him at the number four position.

Especially, after Rahul accumulated 593 runs for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2019. He was the second highest run getter in the competition and consistently scored runs at an average of 53.91.

Rahul, who prefers to open, will be handy in a situation when India’s top three go back early. He might have failed in the previous two occasions when he was tried at number four but with him back among runs things can be different this time.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik celebrates after helping India defeat Bangladesh in the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series final last year.(Photo: AP)

Karthik’s selection was one of the most discussed topics once the World Cup squad was announced last month. Karthik is the second-choice keeper in the side but I hardly believe his role will be restricted to standing behind the stumps in Dhoni’s absence.

Over the last three years, Karthik has done decently with the bat, managing an average of 61.00 and 41.75 in 2017 and 2018. Even in 2019 he has managed to stay afloat with an average of 37.50 from four innings. So, trying him at the number four position won’t be a bad idea.

Playing the role of a floater all these years, Karthik’s sound technique with the bat might be handy at number four. His IPL form might be the only thing that might spoil the party for the Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper.

MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been the most successful batsman with the bat for Chennai Super Kings with the bat in this season of the IPL.(Photo: AP)

If his IPL 2019 records are to be believed, Dhoni is peaking at the right time with the bat. By the time the IPL ended, Dhoni was confident enough with the bat to promote himself to number four position on multiple occasion.

If Dhoni can bat at number four for his IPL franchise, why not for the national side. Over the last few years we have seen that the former captain has taken his sweet time to get going. In that case, number four is the best suited position for him to bat since that gives him enough time to settle in.

With Dhoni at number four, India can make sure that their best four batsmen face maximum deliveries in the high-profile tournament in the UK.

Dark Horses

With Kedar Jadhav injured and no update on his injury, there is an outright chance that either Rishabh Pant, riding his IPL success, or Ambati Rayudu might make their way into the squad. Remember, both these players have been named in the reserve list and the ICC has a cut-off date of 23 May to announce the final squad for all the participating nations.