Trust Rohit Sharma to be candid.
It is unusual for an Indian cricket captain to admit to team weaknesses. But at a La Liga event in Mumbai on Thursday, Sharma conceded that the crucial No. 4 slot was an issue for the ODI team. He said that had been the case ever since the retirement of Yuvraj Singh.
"Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), nobody has come and settled themselves in,” Sharma said.
"Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well — his numbers are really good. Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble; he has been out for a while and that is honestly what has happened in the last 4-5 years. A lot of these guys have got injured and you will always see a new guy coming and playing there.”
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Iyer has scored 805 runs at 47.35 with two centuries and five fifties in his 20 matches at No. 4. Currently, he is recuperating from a back injury.
"When the players get injured or are not available, you try doing different things with different players — that is what I have to say about No. 4," Sharma said. "Even earlier, when I was not the captain, there were so many guys who came in and went out. But injuries kept them away or they were not available or someone lost form," Sharma said about the revolving door of players at No. 4.
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Sharma said the team management was keeping a close watch on KL Rahul – India's choice for No. 5 as wicketkeeper-batter – and Iyer. But then he reiterated that no player could take his place for granted.
"No one is an automatic (selection), even I am not. We have this thing where nobody is guaranteed a spot. We cannot say that 'you are there after all' or things like that," Sharma said.
"Shreyas and KL are coming off not playing anything for four months, big injuries. Both had surgeries. I had to undergo surgery once and know how it feels afterwards, it is quite tough. We have to see how they respond, what they do.”
In conclusion, Sharma said, "They (Rahul and Iyer) have been at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) for the last four months, working really hard and it looks quite positive so we will keep our fingers crossed.”
