Ahead of the Champions Trophy, India's ODI side has a middle-order muddle that needs to be sorted – four fantastic options, but only three spots. Who sits out?
Much of the focus ahead of the latest tournament has been on three star players – batters Rohit Sharma, the captain, and Virat Kohli for their poor recent form (in Test cricket); and vice-captain and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for a back injury he picked up in Australia which has now been confirmed to keep him out of the group stage.
But flying slightly under the radar is how India will go about constructing their middle-order; only a headache because of the embarrassment of riches they have.
Between Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, one might have to miss out.
During India's last major ODI tournament, the World Cup in 2023, their players at Nos. 4, 5 and 6 were Iyer, Rahul and Pandya, who slotted in seamlessly thanks to Pant's absence through injury. No.7 went to the spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and India picked Shardul Thakur as a pace bowler who could bat a bit at No.8. The specialist bowlers were two pacers and one spinner.
