Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg reckons rookie batter Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson could be India’s answer for the number four conundrum in ODIs. In the absence of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, India’s middle order has stuttered in the recent past.
However, Varma impressed one and all in the recent T20I series against the West Indies, scoring 173 runs in five matches. On the other hand, Sanju Samson is well known for his ability to change the game on its head but he wasn’t consistent on the recent West Indies tour.
Samson scored 51 runs off just 41 balls in the third ODI against the Windies but apart from that knock, he could not do much of notice. The right-hander has scored 390 runs in 13 ODIs at an average of 55.71 whereas Tilak Varma is yet to make his ODI debut.
Varma has scored 1236 runs in 25 List A matches at an impressive average of 56.18 with the help of five centuries and as many fifties while playing for Hyderabad. Ergo, Varma could be considered for the ODI team before the showpiece.
Hogg feels India will back Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top of the order and then Sanju Samson could be a good option in the middle order as a wicket-keeper.
“If they go with Gill and Rohit Sharma at the top of the order with Sanju Samson at No. 4 as the Indian keeper going into that World Cup. I think he can offer something substantial in that position,” Hogg said via his Instagram channel.
The former left-arm spinner added that Ishan Kishan is more suited for the opener role and if he opens the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma, then Tilak Varma will be a good option for the number four position.
“If they’re (Iyer and Rahul) not fit, we need a keeper in this team. I don’t think Ishan Kishan can bat lower down the order. I think he is predominantly an opener,” Hogg said about Ishan Kishan’s inability to bat in the middle order.
“If they open with Kishan and Rohit Sharma, I would have Tilak Varma coming in at No. 4. He has hardly played any one-day cricket. But the way he has operated in T20 cricket shows that he has got the goods for any situation,” he further added.
India will next take on Ireland in three-match T20I series, starting August 18.
