ICC World Cup 2019: Why India should have given their Test specialist a chance at No.4

In hindsight, the selectors missed out on giving an opportunity to one reliable player that could have resolved India’s biggest worry ahead of the mega event – Cheteshwar Pujara.

Understandably, many cricket experts may have concerns over his strike rates in ODIs in today’s generation of 300+ runs however there are a lot more ways than just scoring runs fast that the Baroda player could have successfully contributed towards Team India’s success at the upcoming World Cup this summer.

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Here are the 3 reasons why Cheteshwar Pujara could have been the ideal No.4 for Team India:

Cheteshwar Pujara

#1 Excellent batting technique

Though India’s opening pair – Rohit and Shikhar - has been a tremendous form for the past couple of years, they have always been vulnerable against swinging deliveries. Considering the tournament being played on seaming fast pitches in England, there is a good probability for a No.4 being on the crease within first 10 overs itself.

Unfortunately in the recent years, more often than not, Team India has ended up on a losing side when the top 3 failed to deliver a good start and Pujara with his solid batting technique could have provided the much-needed stability in such desperate situations.