Gautam Gambhir bats for Ambati Rayudu: Former Indian opening batsman wants the team management to persist with Ambati Rayudu.
Despite India having played their last ODI before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, there is still no confirmation on who will bat at No. 4 during their first World Cup clash against South Africa on June 5.
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From selectors and team management continually experimenting with batsmen at No. 4 to players not really standing tall at the given role, India have no definite solution to a problem which has it in it to affect them duly during the showpiece event.
The fact that India have played as many as 12 batsmen at No. 4 since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in itself speaks about the inconsistency which the batting number has experienced in the last few years.
In a recent interview with India Today, former India opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has put forward his views as to why zeroing in on one particular No. 4 batsman will hold the key for India.
“If you want a settled batting order in the World Cup, then the No. 4 has to be decided beforehand and he should be backed completely,” Gambhir was quoted as saying by India Today.
“Ambati Rayudu hasn’t done anything wrong”
Ambati Rayudu, who made his comeback into the ODI side after a couple of years during the Asia Cup last year, looked comfortable to bat at No. 4 before a recent inconsistent run hit him. Gambhir believed that the Indian team management should continue to back Rayudu despite his present-day failures.
“You have backed others too. You backed MS Dhoni too last year and even Shikhar Dhawan. Ambati Rayudu averages nearly 50 in ODIs, he hasn’t done anything wrong. Failures are part and parcel of the game. You didn’t drop any other player after two or three failures,” Gambhir said.
Laying emphasis on the fact that the batting number should have already become a settled position by now, Gambhir made public the idea of persisting with whichever candidate the management goes for.
“No. 4 should have been a settled position by now. Virat Kohli played the 2011 World Cup at No. 4. Whoever the team management decides to back should be backed to the hilt and they should stay patient with him. It is a very important slot and you can’t have a floater at No 4 because the No. 3 and No. 4 makes the core of your middle order,” Gambhir added.
How Twitter reacted:
In the last 7 away ODIs where Rayudu has batted at No4 he has scores of 90, 0, 40*, 47, 13*, 24, 0. Thrice he has come in with team score < 25 and scored 90,0,0. Is he in for the #WorldCup2019? #TeamIndia
— Lets Play (@WatzTheScore) March 19, 2019
IpL is the best plateform for rayudu to express thier intent, talent, and performance.
And confirm 4 no. Position for world cup— Sadiq Ikram (@SadiqIkram4) March 19, 2019
Shikhar and Rayudu’s form is becoming a bit of a concern….it can’t be Kohli v Australia. #IndvAus
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 8, 2019
What an absolute comeback – what an absolute story by an incredibly inspiring man! Congratulations Mahi bhai for telling this story! The yellow jersey is so proud! @msdhoni #RoarOftheLion
— Ambati Rayudu (@RayuduAmbati) March 16, 2019
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