Team management was unfair to Ambati Rayudu, believes Gautam Gambhir

India’s number four conundrum may be the most hotly discussed topic in Indian cricket at the moment. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has also joined the discussion about the crucial number four slot by saying that Rayudu didn’t get enough backing from the team management.

The left-hander went on to say that the management had backed many players in the past but they dished out a different approach with respect to Ambati Rayudu. The CSK player was in a sublime form in last year’s IPL, where he smashed 602 runs. He also played a match-winning knock in the final ODI against New Zealand where he scored 90 runs to bail out India after they were reduced to 18/4. However, he was dropped for the final two ODIs against Australia after he returned with figures of 13,18 and 2 in the first three matches.

"If you want a settled batting order in the World Cup, then the number 4 has to be decided beforehand and he should be backed completely," stated Gambhir, as reported by India Today.

"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.”

Reiterating the importance of the number four slot, the former Delhi batsman opined that the position should have been settled by now as the World Cup is not far away. He stressed on the fact that the no. 3 and no. 4 make the core of a batting line-up and the batsman that the team picks up for the World Cup should be backed.

"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."