5 Indian players who should be given a chance to play at No. 5 in ODIs

India recently lost the ODI series against England, and India's middle order was miserable in the entire series. This is an issue that has been going on since 2011 and it requires urgent attention and serious discussion ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

The Indian team management has failed completely in finding the players that could bat solidly in the middle order for the team.

Ever since Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh lost their touch, India have found it hard to replace these batsmen. The constant shuffling between the selected batsmen is making the situation worse for India, with even MS Dhoni suffering a loss in form. Therefore India desperately needs players that can show consistency in the middle order.

One such position where they need a new player is at five in the batting order. A number five batsman should have the ability to build an innings if the wickets fall early. He should also be able to take full advantage of death overs by scoring maximum runs in those overs. India currently has one of the worst run-rates in the death overs.

Inda should show faith in the youngsters and back them, even if they fail initially. Here are the five players that should be given chance to play at no. 5 in ODIs for India.

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#5 Hanuma Vihari

ECB XI v India A - Tour Match

Hanuma Vihari is one of the most consistent middle-order batsmen in India's domestic circuit. In his 56 List-A matches, Vihari has scored 2268 runs at an average of 47.25 including four hundreds. Vihari is an underrated batsman, who has been constantly ignored by everyone in the management, despite showing consistency in the domestic circuit. India should consider him for selection for the national side.

Vihari was also excellent in the recently completed India A tour of England. He scored a blazing 147 runs off 131 balls in a match against West India A, which took India A to a target of 354 from a tough situation at 28 for 2. He scored 253 runs in the entire tri-series tournament, which included a fifty and a hundred.

Vihari has shown the selectors that he knows how to bat in the middle order with a sense of responsibility. Vihari should be rewarded for his consistency, and who knows, he might provide some fruitful results.

#4 Deepak Hooda

ICC Under 19 World Cup -Superleague QF 1

Deepak Hooda is another man that should be given the chance by India in the batting order at number five. Hooda is the one of the most underrated middle order batsman. He is nicknamed 'Hurricane' for his game-changing ability and big hitting. He has scored 1373 runs in 37 list A games, with an impressive strike rate of 98.28 which includes 44 sixes. Hooda also has a good record in the Ranji Trophy, which shows that he has the patience to play match-winning knocks.

He is also a handy all-rounder, as he has picked 23 wickets in 21 innings. He was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL auction, but they struggled to utilise him correctly. Hooda is more than a pinch hitter, and India should give this youngster an opportunity to prove himself at the number five in the batting order.

#3 Krunal Pandya

ECB XI v India A - Tour Match

Krunal Pandya could be a good option for India to bat at number five, as he mostly bats down the order in domestic circuit, as well as IPL. Although his domestic record is not that impressive, he has batted fluently down the order in the IPL, and has chased many targets for his team, Mumbai Indians.

The major problem for Krunal's nonperformance in domestic cricket had been down to injury. Krunal didn't play any competitive cricket for almost a year due to shoulder surgery in 2015, and he was again injured ahead of this year's season. Krunal got the chance in IPL to showcase his talent, where he performed very well with both bat and ball.

Krunal has scored 708 runs in 39 IPL matches at a scintillating strike rate of 153.91. He also bowled beautifully in those matches where he took 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.12. Pandya has also dismissed AB de Villers four times in the IPL, which is no small feat.

Pandya could be a good number five for India as he is a good striker of the ball and he has shown that he knows how to finish an innings under pressure. He is also a good bowling option for the team, with his tight line and length.

#2 Rishabh Pant

England Lions v India A - International A Teams Tri-Series - Final - Kia Oval

Rishabh Pant was at a different level in this year's IPL. He scored massive 684 runs in 14 innings at an excellent strike rate of 173.60, ending as one of the top run getters. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant played a superb innings of 128* off just 63 balls which helped Delhi put up a respectable total of 187 on the board. Pant also hit the most sixes and fours in this IPL season, with the count being 37 sixes and 68 fours.

Pant rediscovered himself in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, where he was the highest run scorer this year. He played with responsibility and patience in the middle order. He showed everyone that he knows how to build a proper innings, and later accelerate at the death. In an interview, Pant himself admitted that he has changed his approach to the game, and how he no longer looks to hit every ball for sixes. He has learned to play sensible cricket according to the situation.

He has also played brilliantly in all formats for India A in the recently completed England tour. Pant is an excellent choice to bat at number five in this team.

#1 Dinesh Karthik

England v India - 3rd Royal London ODI

Dinesh Karthik attracted everyone's attention toward him when he played a crucial role in Nidahas Trophy, where he scored 29 runs off 8 balls in the final to clinch the trophy. In this match India needed five runs of the last ball, and Karthik closed the game by hitting a flat six off Soumya Sarkar.

Karthik found his form in 2017 when he finished as the highest run-getter in the Vijay Hazare trophy. He was awarded an innational call for his consistency. He has made a solid comeback in the international circuit as well as having a good IPL campaign. He was excellent both as a captain and a finisher for Kolkata Knight Rider. He scored 498 runs at striker rate of 147.77 for KKR which helped them to reach the qualifiers. Karthik has improved his technique and temperament over the years. He can also hit a few unorthodox shots that are required in the death overs. Karthik would be a solid number five batsman in this team, as he has grown as a finisher.