We aim to avoid dependency: Rohit Sharma opens up on number four conundrum ahead of the Asia Cup 2023

The BCCI unveiled a 17-member Indian team squad for the Asia Cup 2023 tournament on Monday, marking the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer to the Men in Blue squad. The comeback of Iyer in particular is seen as the solution to India’s persistent dilemma over the no.4 batting spot.

Iyer had occupied this pivotal batting position for a significant part of the last two years before being sidelined by a back injury, which led to recent surgery. He missed IPL 2023 and other engagements but has now successfully completed a thorough rehabilitation process, making him ready for action in the Asia Cup 2023.

The number four position serves as a vital link between the top and middle batting orders. Batsmen in this role are expected to anchor the innings or accelerate scoring as needed, underlining its significance.

During the squad announcement, the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma emphasized the need for players versatile enough to bat in any position.

Rohit demands versatility from batters

“Our approach is that no player should claim to excel only in a particular batting position. We seek players who can adapt to any situation. This has been our approach for several years. The players understand this. International cricket is different from club cricket; they must be prepared to adapt to various positions as required. We aim to avoid dependency on a single player in a specific position. While maximizing our players’ potential is crucial, no one is confined to a fixed position. This flexibility has been communicated to the players,” Rohit Sharma told reporters.

Disregarding the favorite tag for India in the Asia Cup, Rohit stressed that their slight advantage comes from playing in conditions similar to home. He highlighted that all teams will compete fiercely, and the home-like conditions could provide some edge, but their focus remains on testing and challenging themselves before the World Cup.

“I don’t believe in the thought process of being favorites. It’s for the outside world to create that scenario. We have to play well. All the teams will be there to compete hard and we understand that. It can give a little bit of an advantage while playing in home-like conditions, but that’s about it. As far as our prep is concerned, this is the right tournament to test ourselves and put ourselves under pressure before the World Cup,” said Rohit.

Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team will kick off their Asia Cup 2023 journey by facing their arch-rivals, Pakistan, on Saturday, September 2nd, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.