The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 begins on 5 October. India will play their first match in Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia on October 8. Before that Former Indian cricket team opener Virender Sehwag picked his choice for the middle order of the India squad. He believes that Shreyas Iyer has cemented his spot in the playing XI for the Cricket World Cup 2023 after a sensational century against Australia in the recently-concluded ODI series. He also picked KL Rahul and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
According to Sehwag, Iyer looked in good touch with the impressive knock in the second ODI encounter against Australia. Sehwag picked him to bat at No. 4 for India. The legendary batter also picked KL Rahul to bat at No. 5 and Hardik Pandya to bat at No. 6. During a cricketing interaction on Cricbuzz Sehwag said, “At No. 6 and 7 KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won’t be there at either of those positions. There is No. 5 though. But if Hardik Pandya is your sixth bowler then Rahul will bat at No. 5, and Hardik at No. 6, then comes the bowlers.” Sehwag also opened up about the playing chance of Ishan Kishan. He said, “We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays, then it will be Iyer, Rahul and Hardik at No. 4, 5 and 6 respectively.”
The legendary opener also thinks there is no chance for Suryakumar Yadav to be in the playing 11. He pointed out, if a slot opens up in the Indian cricket team middle-order, Kishan will be preferred. Sehwag explained, “It depends on how India look at this combination, whether they feel Hardik will certainly bowl 10 overs because that will give India an extra bowler. So then Suryakumar cannot fit in there and even if there is a slot, then Ishan should be picked ahead because he is a left-hander.” Known for his aggressive style, Sehwag amassed 8273 runs and 15 centuries in 50-over cricket. He played a pivotal role in India’s 2011 World Cup victory.