Three Reasons Why Yuvraj Singh Is The Best Option To End India's 'Number Four' Woes

In the last couple of years, Team India has done exceedingly well in One-Day Internationals. But that does not mean the team-management is not having any worries at the moment. While the top-order and and bowling have done very well, the middle order has been a major area of concern. What is even more worrying is the unsettled number four spot.

The number four spot has been a major area of concern for the team for quite some time now. It is the link between the top-order and the lower middle-order and the right man needs to occupy it in order to keep the balance of the playing XI intact.

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But while India’s top-order has been in red-hot form for quite some time now,  the number four spot has given the team-management a big headache. The Indian camp has been experimenting extensively since the second half of last year but without much success. Going back to the Sri Lankan tour in July-August last year, through the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ajinkya Rahane were tried at that position but none of them managed to impress.

Recently, Suresh Raina was also tried out but he too failed to grab his chances.

With the next World Cup less than a year ago, time is running out for the Indian team. They do not have much games before the showpiece event to try out new players. And with the already tried out players not being able to do well, the team has the option of bringing back one of their biggest match-winners – Yuvraj Singh.

The southpaw lost his place in the team last year but can be considered for that role. And here we take a look at three reasons why Yuvraj is the best bet for India to solve the number four riddle:

3. No time to try out new players:

The emergence of players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal as well as Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill have given the team a lot of options. But while there are lot of options, the team-management does not have much time in its hands to try out the new players.

And taking a player to an event like the World Cup without trying him out looks like a no-brainer. In such a situation, it is always wise to put the money on the old war-horse and as of now there are very options better than Yuvraj Singh.

2. Knack of delivering at the big stage:

Not only the fans but even his contemporaries and former cricketers have admitted that Yuvraj is arguably the greatest match-winner for India in limited-overs format.

An 18-year-old facing the likes of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie at their peak in his first ODI innings is still fresh in every fan’s mind. It was the precursor of how his career would follow. Yuvraj did not take long to become one of the batting mainstays of the team.

But what set him apart from others was his knack of doing well whenever the team needed him the most.

The six sixes off Stuart Broad during the inaugural World T20 in 2007, the 30-ball 70 runs innings in the semifinal of the same event against Australia or the Man of the Tournament performance in 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj just loves to deliver at the big stage. With history on his side, the team can certainly gamble on him.

1. Experience:

So far, only six Indian cricketers have breached the 300-ODI mark and Yuvraj is one of them. At this moment, he is the second-most experienced Indian cricketer in terms of games after MS Dhoni. Moreover, Yuvraj has the experience of playing in 3 World Cups.

The team can definitely benefit from Yuvraj’s experience in the World Cup and who knows he might prove his selection right with another standout performance in an ICC event..