Team India’s number 4 conundrum: Shreyas Iyer vs Suryakumar Yadav vs Sanju Samson

With the much-anticipated ODI World Cup 2023 on the horizon, cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the mega event. Set to kick off on October 5, the global showpiece tournament will witness a thrilling clash between last year’s finalists, England and New Zealand, in the opening encounter. Amidst this excitement, all eyes are on Team India, the proud hosts of the eye-catching competition.

India’s last ODI World Cup victory dates back to 2011 when the iconic MS Dhoni led the team to glory. As the spotlight shifts to the present, Rohit Sharma is at the helm, charged with the responsibility of gui🐲ding India to ano🍃ther triumphant campaign.

However, a cloud of uncertainty hovers over a crucial aspect of Team India’s lineup—the enigma of the number 4 position. Since the departure of the legendary Yuvraj Singh, the conundrum surrounding this pivotal batting slot remains unsolved. Numerous players have been tested in this role, yet as the ODI World Cup looms just two months away, th💛e predicament persists.

Also READ: Rohit Sharma addresses India’s no. 4 woes ahead of ODI World Cup 2023; reflects on Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s injury issues

At present, three players have emerged as contenders for the coveted number 4 position, each armed with the potential to make a significant impact. Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Sanju Samson are the three individuals vying for this crucial spot in the batting order. While Sanju Samson has been afforded fewer opportunities, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav have enjoyed a ﷺdegree of consistency in their appearances.

As the anticipation builds, it’s fitting to delve into a comparative analysis of these three dynamic players in the context of their ODI careers:

Last 10 ODI innings:

Shreyas Iyer:

• 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka – 38
• 2nd ODI vs Sri Lanka – 28
• 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka – 28
• 3rd ODI vs Bangladesh – 3
• 2nd ODI vs Bangladesh – 82
• 1st ODI vs Bangladesh – 24
• 3rd ODI vs New Zealand – 49
• 2nd ODI vs New Zealand – DNB
• 1st ODI vs New Zealand – 80
• 3rd ODI vs South Africa – 28*

Suryakumar Yadav:

• 3rd ODI vs West Indies – 35
• 2nd ODI vs West Indies – 24
• 1st ODI vs West Indies – 19
• 3rd ODI vs Australia – 0
• 2nd ODI vs Australia – 0
• 1st ODI vs Australia – 0
• 3rd ODI vs New Zealand – 14
• 2nd ODI vs New Zealand – DNB
• 1st ODI vs New Zealand – 31
• 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka – 4

Sanju Samson:

• 3rd ODI vs West Indies – 51
• 2nd ODI vs West Indies – 9
• 1st ODI vs New Zealand – 36
• 3rd ODI vs South Africa– 2*
• 2nd ODI vs South Africa – 30*
• 1st ODI vs South Africa – 86*
• 3rd ODI vs Zimbabwe – 15
• 2nd ODI vs Zimbabwe – 43*
• 1st ODI vs Zimbabwe – DNB
• 3rd ODI vs West Indies – 6*

Total number of matches:

• Iyer: 42
• Suryakumar: 26
• Samson: 13

Runs, Average and Strike rate:

• Iyer: 1631, 46.60 and 96.50
• Suryakumar: 511, 24.33 and 101.38
• Samson: 390, 55.71 and 104

Centuries and fifties:

• Iyer: 2 and 14
• Suryakumar: 0 and 2
• Samson: 0 and 3

4’s and 6’s:

• Iyer: 162 and 32
• Suryakumar: 53 and 11
• Samson: 27 and 19