As India gear up for their three-match ODI series in Australia, we take a look at the options they have for the No.4 spot – a long-standing problem area for the Indian team.

With Rohit Sharma, arguably India’s most important ODI batsman alongside captain Virat Kohli, absent for the series, there is perhaps added responsibility on his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan, and whoever fills in for Rohit at the top of the order. However, the burden of ensuring Rohit’s absence isn’t too keenly felt falls on the rest of the line-up as well.

The No.4 spot has been a point of debate since well before the 2019 World Cup, where India tried various batsmen in the crucial slot without any real success. Shreyas Iyer assumed the responsibility during West Indies’ tour of India last year and has been largely successful since. In their most recent ODI series – against New Zealand in February – he scored a century and two fifties in three matches to finish as the top run-getter of the series, and all but cemented his spot for the near future.

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However, with a sizeable contingent being part of the ODI squad, as a precautionary measure against potential Covid-19 complications, India do have a few other options for the slot should they wish to experiment further. We list them below.

Shubman Gill
ODIs: 2, Runs: 16
List A matches: 57, Runs: 2280, Average: 45.60, SR: 88.26, HS: 143, 100s: 6, 50s: 11

Shubman Gill is a fan favourite to take up the No.4 spot in India’s Test batting order following Virat Kohli’s departure after the Adelaide Test, but can he bat there in ODIs too? Gill, so far, has featured in just two ODIs, batting at number three in the absence of Kohli but failed to reach double figures in both those matches. The 21-year-old’s temperament and the way he structures his innings make him a viable option for the spot, but chances are he is more likely to take up the opening role left vacant by Rohit than bat at two drop.

KL Rahul
ODIs: 32, Runs: 1239, Average: 47.65, SR: 87.06, HS: 112, 100s: 4, 50s: 7

KL Rahul’s IPL 2020 has made him the number one contender to open alongside Dhawan in both the limited-overs series against Australia. However, being arguably India’s most versatile batsman, a punt at the No.4 slot with Rahul should be interesting. He averages 72.75 batting at No. 5 in ODIs. However, in past outings at No.4, Rahul hasn’t fared too well – 52 runs in four matches at 17.33. His strike-rate takes a dip too, just 60.46 from No.4 as compared to his career ODI strike-rate of 87.06. Rahul as an opener is most likely the route the management will take.

Manish Pandey
ODIs: 26, Runs: 492, Average: 35.14, SR: 91.96, HS: 104*, 100s: 1, 50s: 2

Manish Pandey’s only ODI century has come while batting at four – his 81-ball-104 helped India chase down Australia’s 330 in Sydney in 2016. An injury to Ajinkya Rahane had prompted the Indian think-tank to promote Pandey then. Perhaps only a similar situation would result in the Karnataka batsman taking up the role in the upcoming ODI series again. He has only scored one ODI fifty since his 104 in Sydney, and one suspects that this could be his final opportunity to cement a spot in India’s limited-overs set up.

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Sanju Samson
Yet to make ODI debut
List A matches: 90, Runs: 2324, Average: 30.57, SR: 86.84, HS: 212*, 100s: 1, 50s: 13

Samson was at his destructive best while batting at four for the Rajasthan Royals in the recently-concluded IPL. But there is still a big question mark over his ability to take a much more composed approach in the ODIs, which is essential if he is handed the responsibility of batting at four in the upcoming series. He is more likely to take up the spot in the three-T20I series that follows the ODI leg of the tour. That said, with Rishabh Pant not being part of the limited-overs squads, Samson is likely to make his ODI debut in Australia. Could it be at four?

Shreyas Iyer
ODIs: 18, Runs: 748, Average: 49.86, SR: 100.80, HS: 103, 100s: 1, 50s: 8

Quite easily India’s top contender for the No.4 spot for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Iyer has done no wrong since being handed the position permanently, and it makes one wonder what could have been had he been included in the 2019 World Cup squad, where India’s inability to properly address the No.4 conundrum arguably cost them the World Cup. In eight ODIs at the spot, Iyer has scored 398 runs at 56.85 at a strike-rate of 98.02. Kohli at three and Iyer at four is the best-case scenario for India.

Shreyas Iyer does an excellent impression of his teammate Marcus Stoinis 😂pic.twitter.com/Ixom1HruNq

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 8, 2020