ICC World Cup 2019 | Every batting position is flexible in Indian team, says Sandeep Patil
Sandeep Patil has stated that every batting position in the Indian team is flexible and there shouldn’t be any debate regarding who should bat where. The former national selector has also added that he always preferred MS Dhoni at No.4 during his tenure but the latter preferred to bat at No.6.
After a long experimentation with Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul, India have zeroed in on Vijay Shankar to bat at the crucial No.4 position with MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav following him in the next two positions. While the deliberations are still on with Vijay Shankar not performing well in the 2019 IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Patil, who selected the team for 2015 World Cup, has stated that batting positions are flexible.
“It’s nonsense, all this debate. Batting positions are flexible. Every number, be it opening or No. 11, is important. Anybody can bat, including M.S.Dhoni. Then there is Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav and Vijay Shankar,” Patil told Sportstar.
Patil, who was the chairman of the Indian selection committee from 2012 and 2016, revealed that he always wanted MS Dhoni to bat at the No.4 position but the former Indian skipper insisted to bat at No.6. As a matter of fact, Dhoni had a better average at No.4 than No.6 and had played some of the most memorable innings from that position.
Dhoni has batted at No. 4. When I was the chairman, he was always my No. 4 choice, while he said he was No. 6. I told have told him many times that he should bat No.4. Who knows what will happen. Even Virat (Kohli) can bat at 4," Patil concluded.