Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday said promising left-hander Tilak Varma should be Indiaโs choice for No 4 batsman at the ICC World Cup 2023 if a front-line player like Shreyas Iyer is not available. Shreyas has been recuperating at the NCA after a surgery on his injured back. But Ganguly said India has several options for the crucial No 4 slot.
โWho said we donโt have a No. 4? We have so many (batsmen) who can bat at that spot. I think differently; my mindset is different. This is a fantastic side,โ Ganguly said on the sidelines of a Denver event where he was announced as the โBrand Face.โ
โI see Tilak Varma as an option, being a left-hander,โ Ganguly said, highlighting Varmaโs adaptability and fearless approach to the game.
The 20-year-old left-hander made an impressive 22-ball 39 on his T20I debut against the West Indies, followed by scores of 51 and 49 not out in his next two outings.
Ganguly further mentioned that the left-handed trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal (back-up opener), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper-batter), and Varma can play fearless cricket and they should be picked when selectors announce Indiaโs World Cup squad before the September 5 deadline.
โHe (Tilak) is a very good young player, not with much experience, but it does not matter. I also want to see the young left-hander (Jaiswal) in the side at the top of the order. He has enormous ability and heโs fearless. So, this is a great side,โ said Ganguly.
Ganguly said the Indian team should be a mix of experienced players and fresh faces.
โIt has to be a team of experience and people who donโt have any scars โ like Jaiswal, Varma, Ishan Kishan. They can go and play fearless cricket. Rahul (Dravid), Rohit and the selectors have plenty of choices; they just have to identify and pick the best XI,โ he said.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah made a return to national side after a long injury lay-off and Ganguly termed it as a welcome development.
Bumrah is currently leading India against Ireland in a three-match T20I series at Dublin.
โIโve spoken to some players at the NCA, and they said heโs at his bestโฆBumrah was bowling at almost 90 miles per hour the other day. Thatโs great news for Indian cricket,โ he added.
Ganguly said India has a very good bowling unit going into the marquee tournament.
โWith Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj, they have a fantastic attack to go with (Ravindra) Jadeja, Axar (Patel), Kuldeep (Yadav); they have enormous talent. How can that team be unsettled?โ he stated.
โItโs just that they played new players in the West Indies and you will see that by the time the World Cup comes, and when they pick the team, it will be a top side. Itโs about how you play during that tournament,โ said Ganguly.
India Among Gangulyโs Top Five
Ganguly said India will be a favorite in the World Cup as he picked the hosts alongside Australia, England, Pakistan and New Zealand in his top five.
โI presume Australia will be one; England, Pakistan, donโt rule New Zealand out; and then thereโs South AfricaโฆBut if you ask my best five at the moment, itโs Australia, England, India, Pakistan and New Zealand,โ he said.
With Rishabh Pant still recovering from an accident, Ganguly said Kishan could be the choice for wicketkeeper batsman.
โPant is the best wicketkeeper in the country, but you can see Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (depending on his fitness); these two will be right up in Rohitโs and Rahulโs minds. I like Ishan Kishan because he just opens up the game for any team. I am sure Dravid will keep him in his plans,โ he signed off.
