4 Contenders for the number four spot in the Indian ODI team

Team India has been on a role in ODI cricket of late. After thrashing the Australians in their den by a margin of 2-1 in the ODI series, the Indian team has dominated a strong New Zealand team in their backyard, having comprehensively beaten the hosts in the first two ODIs.

The 2019 World Cup is around the corner and India are definitely one of the favourites to win the title. While most of the players have secured their ticket for the mega event, there is one weakness which the team needs to address before the World Cup i.e. the number 4 position in the batting line up.

The number 4 position is of utmost importance in ODI cricket. The number 4 batsman needs to play the role of an accumulator if a couple of early wickets are lost in the first 10 overs and at times the role of the aggressor in the last 10 overs of the innings.

Since the last couple of years, India have been struggling to find a batsman who can fit into the number 4 slot. Here's a look at 5 options available for India for the 2019 World Cup:

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#1 MS Dhoni

M.S. Dhoni can be the perfect number 4 for team India in ODIs

The most experienced player in the current ODI team is MS Dhoni. The keeper-batsman who has scored 10414 runs in 285 ODI innings at an average of 51.05 and a strike rate of 87.33, can be a solution for the number 4 batting woes for team India.

The former skipper has played 30 innings at number 4 and has scored 1358 runs at an impressive average of 56.58 and a strike rate of 92.82. Thus his average and strike rate at number 4 is higher than his career stats.

Dhoni likes to take his time to build an innings and once he gets going, he can score runs at a canter. In the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, Dhoni regained his batting touch and scored 193 runs in 3 innings at an average of 193. His innings of 87, batting at number 4 in the third ODI was vital for the team's success.

Dhoni can be the perfect number 4 for team India in the World Cup and his experience of playing in England and his fourth World Cup overall will be crucial for the team's success.

A top 4 comprising of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and M.S. Dhoni is an exciting prospect!

#2 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik averages 38.73 in 18 ODI innings at no 4

While the team management has been looking at Dinesh Karthik as a finisher and making him bat at number 6, it will not be a bad idea to have Karthik occupying the number 4 batting position.

In the Asia Cup which was held last year, the team management persisted with Karthik at number 4 and in 4 innings, he scored 145 runs at an impressive average of around 49.

However, he was not considered for the home series against West Indies and in the recently concluded series against Australia Karthik led India to a win in the second ODI when he scored 25 runs off 14 balls at a strike rate of 178.57.

Interestingly, Karthik has not been considered for selection in the ongoing series against New Zealand despite his impressive batting performances in Australia.

Though Karthik averages 30.91 in 75 ODI innings, his performance at number 4 is impressive. In 18 innings, he has scored 426 runs with 3 half centuries at an average of 38.73.

With Virat Kohli being rested for the last 2 ODIs against the Kiwis, Karthik is likely to find a place in the playing 11 and may be given a chance to bat at number 4.

Karthik has now been around the international cricket scene for 15 years and with his experience, he can be a handy number 4 for team India in the World Cup.

#3 Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu would look to seal the number 4 slot by scoring big runs in the last 3 ODIS against New Zealand

In 18 innings at number 4, Rayudu has scored 587 runs at an average of 45.15 with 1 hundred and 4 half centuries. However, Rayudu has still not been able to make the number 4 position his own despite being afforded sufficient chances by the team management.

In the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, Rayudu played only 2 of the 3 ODIs and was left out of the third ODI. He could not open his account in the first ODI at Sydney and in the second ODI at Melbourne, he scored 24 runs off 36 balls and failed to convert the start to a big score.

In the ongoing series against the Kiwis, he scored an unbeaten 13 off 23 balls in the first ODI, while in the second ODI he could not convert his score of 47 into a big one and failed to provide the finishing touch to the innings.

While Rayudu can play the perfect role of the accumulator in the middle orders, he has still not proved to be a proven finisher in ODI cricket.

He may lose out on the number 4 spot to Dhoni and Karthik considering the finishing touches which the duo of Dhoni and Karthik can provide to the innings.

3 more ODIs in New Zealand will be the litmus test for Rayudu and if he fails to impress, he will miss out on the making it to the World Cup squad.

#4 Rishabh Pant

Pant will look to replicate his success in Test cricket at the ODI level

While the youngster has made rapid strides in Test cricket and has become an indispensable part of the Test outfit, Pant has failed to get going in the limited opportunities he has got in the ODI team.

Chief selector M.S.K. Prasad has recently indicated that Pant is very much a part of the ODI team and could be India's wildcard entry to the World Cup squad.

The left-handed keeper batsman has played just 2 ODIs till date and has scored 41 runs at an average of 20.50 and a strike rate of 132.26.

Pant has the ability to dominate bowling attacks from the word go and has tasted success for India in Test cricket. The ODI game is more suited to Pant's style of batting and he will look to replicate his success at the Test level at the ODI level too.

Pant has tasted success in England and Australia with the bat and it will not be a surprise if he is on the plane to England for the mega event in May.