Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged the Indian team management to stick with KL Rahul as the No. 4 batter in the upcoming three-match home ODI series against Australia as well. However, Singh pointed out how Rahul did well in that position during the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023. He also stated that Rahul should continue to bat at No. 4, while Shreyas Iyer can bat at No. 3 as well.
The veteran said this in his latest YouTube video: “I hope Shreyas Iyer does well batting at No. 3. We cannot make him bat anywhere below that. KL Rahul has been fantastic at No. 4 and I don’t want his position to be changed. India should not demote him to No. 5 to give Shreyas Iyer or Suryakumar Yadav a chance. However, KL can choose to bat at No. 3, and Shreyas can be the No. 4. India will have to choose between Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin. I feel Sundar will get the nod because he was also called to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup final. He didn’t get much to do in that game. So, I think he should be India’s No. 8 in the first ODI.”
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However, it is worth mentioning that KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the first two ODIs in regular captain Rohit Sharma’s absence. He also named his preferred Indian XI for the ODI series opener in the video as well. He further added that the upcoming series against Australia is likely to be a better-contested one as compared to the Asia Cup 2023 as well.
“India vs Australia is a better series than the Asia Cup. India will be up against Australia, a team that is full of matchwinners. These two teams are the frontrunners to win the World Cup. It will be a tough contest. Yes, India will be without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (first two ODIs), but they are a decent side,” Harbhajan Singh concluded.
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Harbhajan Singh’s XI: Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.
