Team India's star batter Shreyas Iyer, who bats at number four position in ODIs, and first-choice wicketkeeper KL Rahul are important for India's ODI World Cup 2023 plans. The duo underwent surgeries after suffering injuries while playing and have remained out of action for quite some time now. Both Iyer and Rahul are set to miss the upcoming India vs Ireland three-match T20I series as they are on the road to recovery at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Several videos have surfaced on the internet in which Rahul and Iyer can be seen batting in the nets. It seems like they might soon become eligible for a test at NCA to prove their fitness and will surely get picked for the upcoming 2023 Asia Cup tournament and later in India's ODI World Cup 2023 squad 'if declared fit'. But what if both players are unfit and fail to make a return?
Sharing his take on India's batting order in ODI World Cup, ex-Australian spinner Brad Hogg has come up with a solution for team India. As per him, if India retains Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma as openers in their playing XI, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper batsman) or Tilak Varma can bat at number four.
Speaking on Instagram, he said: "If they're (Iyer and Rahul) not fit, we need a keeper in this team. I don't think Ishan Kishan can bat lower down the order. I think he is predominantly an opener."
"If they open with Kishan and Rohit Sharma, I would have Tilak Varma coming in at No. 4. He has hardly played any one-day cricket. But the way he has operated in T20 cricket shows that he has got the goods for any situation," he added.
Hogg also feels that India can try Samson in the wicketkeeper role if they don't use Ishan Kishan as an opener.
"If they go with Gill and Rohit Sharma at the top of the order with Sanju Samson at No. 4 as the Indian keeper going into that World Cup. I think he can offer something substantial in that position", he said.