Shreyas Iyer's Quality Makes Him A Must At No.4: Anil Kumble

Shreyas Iyer did not have enough chances to contribute during the recently concluded Twenty20 International series which India won 2-1 against the West Indies. Iyer managed scores of 4,10,0* but the focus now will be in the ODIs starting on December 15 at Chepauk. Iyer has had a better outing in ODIs and during the recent series in the Caribbean, Iyer batted at No.5 and scored 71 and 65. India have had a problem regarding the number four position in ODIs and it cost them dearly during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final. However, former India spinner and head coach of the national side Anil Kumble wants the team management to promote Iyer to No.4 in the series against West Indies.

"With Shikhar (Dhawan) not being there it again gives KL Rahul chance to open the batting. We have seen Shreyas Iyer's quality and he has grown in stature, so I would like him to be at number four," Kumble said in an interview to Star Sports. In the build-up to the ODI series, there is more welcome news for India. Jasprit Bumrah will bowl during net sessions with the Indian team before its second ODI against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam as part of his rehabilitation programme after recovering from a back injury.

Bumrah has been out since the start of the home series against South Africa due to a stress fracture but has made a steady recovery. The team management is expecting him to be fit before the tour of New Zealand early next year. The game against west Indies is scheduled for December 18. "Bumrah will be having a net session with the Indian team. This is a norm now. The team management also checked Bhuvneshwar Kumar's fitness in Indore before the Test against Bangladesh although he wasn't a part of the squad. This is also something on similar lines, a common practice," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

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Bumrah and Hardik Pandya (back surgery), both Mumbai Indians players, are currently undergoing their rehabilitation at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) ground (under aegis of BCCI). However, the 26-year-old Bumrah is unlikely to make a comeback during the next white ball series against Sri Lanka and may just play a Ranji Trophy game before boarding the flight to New Zealand. It is also possible that Bumrah goes to New Zealand with the India A team to play a few games to get into the groove.

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