Team India has been struggling to find an ideal number four batsman since the 2015 world cup. Many cricketers have been tried at the number four slot but the team management has not got the satisfactory results. Before the world cup, Ambati Rayudu was batting at number four but his poor run of form in couple of series, ousted him from national scene.
All-rounder Vijay Shankar was preferred over him, but he could not do justice to his talent. Now India is persisting with Shreyas Iyer to do the job as the hunt for India’s “match winning” number four continues.
Suresh Raina says he can be India’s number four
Suresh Raina, who played his last match against England in 2018, believes that he can still bat at number four in the One-Day and T20 teams. Raina, who is trying to find his place in the team for next year’s T20 World Cup, told ‘The Hindu’, ‘I can bat at number 4 for India. I have also batted at that spot before and performed well. TwoTT20 World Cups are to be played and I am looking for an opportunity.
Raina further talked about former India skipper MS Dhoni and said that the veteran batsman should have been promoted up the order in world cup semi-final.
“Had he come earlier, he could have guided Pant and then we still had Pandya and Jadeja. Even then he kept India in the fight till the very end and we would have won but for the direct hit from Guptill,” he said.
The Uttar Pradesh cricketer, who is recovering from a knee injury said that Dhoni still has lot of cricket left in him and he would be an asset for the Indian team if he can continued till 2020 World Cup in Australia.
“He is still fit, still a terrific wicket-keeper and still the greatest finisher in the game. Dhoni will be an asset for India in the T20 World Cup,” Raina said.
