Indian captain Rohit Sharma has addressed the number 4 batting position dilemma by emphasizing the importance of having players capable of batting in any position within the lineup.
During the squad announcement press conference in New Delhi, Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressed the persistent number 4 batting issue, emphasizing the importance of players with the versatility to bat in any lineup position.
Notably, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have made their comeback to India’s 17-member squad for the 2023 Asia Cup after recovering from long-term injuries.
When asked about who playes in No. 4 position, Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of a collective batting effort overfixating on the position. “You got guys who can bat at number four. It is not about number four, but about the top three, then from there onwards. It is not just one position that can win us a game and a tournament. It is about the batting unit coming together as a batting unit and getting the job done,” he said.
🗣️ "It's about the entire batting unit coming together and getting the job done."#TeamIndia captain @ImRo45#AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/qZRv4za7k4
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2023
Rohit further added India’s intention to avoid reliance on a single player for the number 4 batting position, citing the ongoing struggle to establish a consistent occupant for that role since the 2019 World Cup.
“There have been challenges. Guys have been put under pressure, We have had some injuries, we had to try and see other players in that position. We had to rotate them. Some players missed out due to workload management. We had to try what combination suited us. We tried Axar at number four, a left-hander at number four and allowed him to play with freedom. Once we get into World Cup, we want to rest assured that this is what we want to do,” the skipper added.
Rohit also downplayed the idea of India being tournament favorites in the Asia Cup. He stressed the need to focus on performance, disregarding external perceptions. While acknowledging the slight advantage of playing in familiar conditions, Rohit sees the tournament as a valuable test ahead of the World Cup.
The Asia Cup will commence for India with a high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, scheduled for September 2 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
Last Updated on August 21, 2023
Senior Sports Copywriter
