I think Shreyas Iyer should bat at number four, claims Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar has backed India youngster Shreyas Iyer to secure the number four spot in the batting line-up after impressing against West Indies. Gavaskar has claimed that BCCI selectors must offer the Mumbai lad more opportunities with the Indian senior team in the coming months.
Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer who made his return to the Indian limited-overs team for the ODI series against West Indies. After being overlooked for this year's ICC ODI World Cup in England, Iyer hit a 68-ball 71 to play a crucial role in India's 59-run win over the West Indies in the second ODI at Port-of-Spain on Sunday.
Gavaskar reckons that the Delhi Capitals captain should be considered to fill in at number four in the Indian batting line-up while Rishabh Pant should come out to bat at five.Â
"In my view, Rishabh Pant is much better like an MS Dhoni at 5 or 6 as a finisher because that's where his natural game and natural flair will come into play.
"If India get to a great start with Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma batting for 40-45 overs, then Pant at No. 4. But if it's a question of batting for 30-35 overs, then I think it should be Shreyas Iyer at No. 4 and Pant at No. 5," Sunil Gavaskar told 'Sony Ten' channel.
Gavaskar, who represented India in 125 Test matches, believes the Mumbai-born youngster should now get a longer run in ODI cricket with the senior Indian team.Â
"He has grabbed his opportunity. He came at No. 5. He had plenty of overs. He had the company of his skipper, Virat Kohli. Nothing quite like it because the skipper takes the pressure off you. The best place to learn in cricket is the non-striker's end. That's what Shreyas Iyer was doing with Virat Kohli at the other end.Â
"I think, if this doesn't help him get a more permanent slot in the Indian middle-order, I don't know what will. In the five matches, he played before this, he scored 2 fifties and hit a highest score of 88. He hadn't done anything wrong to be left out of the 14 (15) (World Cup). But that's in the past. Now he has come back and scored a 71 in his first opportunity. So I think he will get a longer run," Gavaskar added.Â