Top 5 Indian batsmen for the #4 spot in the ICC World Cup 2019 

The count down has begun for the much awaited mega event as all the top 10 teams will look to lock horns with each other. As the preparations have entered into the final phase, most of the teams are ready with their blueprint of the final squad.

The Indian team are well on track with their preparations and have sorted out most of their plans for the upcoming world event. The big puzzle which remains unsolved is who will get to bat at #4 for the mega tournament.

Currently, Ambati Rayudu has looked good in bits and pieces but has not sealed the number four position. The hunt for the middle order spot has not stopped and will try out a few players before entering the tournament.

With only 9 ODI matches left before the ICC World Cup 2019, let us find out which current Indian batsmen have a good chance to bat at number four.

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#5 Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav's addition in the team has given a big boost to the middle-order line-up

Kedar Jadhav has been one of the most underrated performers for the Indian team. His crucial contribution both with the bat and ball has played a pivotal role in India's winning contribution.

Unfortunately, Jadhav had been missing out a lot of matches due to lack of fitness and injuries. It looked like he was out of the race for the World Cup, but his comeback performance against Australia in the recent series made sure that he is in the contention for the middle order slot.

The pocket-sized dynamo has all shots in his arsenal and can play unorthodox shots in pressure situations. His batting average of 46 and strike rate of 109 speaks volume of his power hitting.

The Indian team needs a batsman at number four who can be aggressive and can counter-attack in case the top order fails. Jadhav is the perfect player for these kinds of situations and can be one of the contenders for the no. 4 spot.

#4 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has a strong technique and temperament for the number four position.

When Manish Pandey played a binder in the IPL 2009 scoring a brilliant century, he became the first Indian batsman to score an IPL hundred and showcased his immense talent. He was a young prodigy at that time and was the next big thing in Indian cricket.

It took a while for Pandey to get into the international arena and finally made an ODI debut for India in 2015. The match-winning knock of 104 against Australia was a class apart and showed a great temperament while batting at number four and chased a huge target.

Since then he has blown hot and cold with the bat, and as a result, he could not cement his place in the Indian team. Pandey has all the ingredients of becoming a perfect middle order batsman and score runs at number four.

Pandey has scored consistently for India A team and recently scored hundred against New Zealand A team. Pandey could be a dark horse for the number four spot and is surely on the radar for the 50-over World Cup.

#3 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has looked in great touch from the past few series

Dinesh Karthik has come a long way after making his international debut in 2004. He played for the Indian team before MS Dhoni but could not grab his opportunity with both hands.

Since then, he has constantly played under the shadow of Dhoni and never got his opportunity. After making numerous comebacks in the Indian team, Karthik has finally cemented his place in the middle order with his consistent and match-winning performances.

The Tamil Nadu batsman has a lot of experience in the middle order and could be an ideal option for the number four spot. Besides that, Karthik has played a lot of cricket in England as he was part of the Champions Trophy team in 2013 and 2017 which could be a major factor for the World Cup 2019.

Batting at number four, Karthik has accumulated 426 runs in 18 matches at an average of around 40, and with his wealth of experience in the middle order, he could play a key role for the Indian team.

#2 Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu looks the strongest contender for number four slot

Ambati Rayudu was a teenage prodigy when he made Ranji debut for Hyderabad at the age of 16. He played a match-winning knock for India U-19 after scoring 177 runs against England U-19 and was expected to be the next sensation for the Indian cricket.

After a stint with the Indian Cricket League(ICL), Rayudu was banned from the domestic circuit thereby delaying his international debut for India. The ban was soon lifted, and finally, he represented the Indian team for the first time in 2013.

Currently, Rayudu has become an integral part of the ODI team and will play a crucial role in the middle order. At number four, he has scored 587 runs in 18 matches at an average of 46 with one hundred and four fifties.

The Hyderabad batsman has performed consistently at no.4 and looks the most eligible contender for this slot. Virat Kohli has also shown immense faith in Rayudu and is likely to bat at the same position in World Cup.

#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

MS Dhoni has been the backbone of the Indian team for a long time

The number four batting conundrum has been of the grey areas in the Indian batting line up. Along with this, Dhoni's batting position has also come under the scanner.

The veteran batsman has struggled to score runs quickly and consume a lot of deliveries at the start of the innings. After the Australian series, Dhoni has answered his critics in style after claiming the Man of the Series award scoring runs consistently in all the matches.

Dhoni batted at number four in the decider match against Australia scoring crucial 87 runs and winning the series for the Indian team. At #4, he has accumulated 1358 runs at an average of 57 with one hundred and 12 fifties.

Dhoni is the ideal candidate for the number four position as it not only solves this issue but also resolves his slot in the batting order.