Shikhar Dhawan backs Suryakumar Yadav to succeed as India's No.4 in World Cup 2023

Shreyas Iyer's indecision has cast question on India's No.4 position heading into the ICC World Cup 2023. While India skipper Rohit Sharma indicated that Iyer is on track for returning to his full fitness, the Mumbaikar's recovery has recently limited the team's combination.

Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson were both considered for the role during India's tour of the West Indies, but neither batsman impressed the selectors. However, veteran India opener Shikhar Dhawan has backed Suryakumar for the coveted No.4 place in the event that Iyer is unable to recover in time.

"I would go with Surya at four because he is an experienced player and has been playing international cricket for a while," Dhawan told PTI. Suryakumar, by the record, scored three straight ducks against Australia earlier this year.

SKY earned the starts in the ODI series against the West Indies but failed to turn them into huge ones. Against the West Indies, he scored 19, 24, and 35. Meanwhile, Dhawan is excited to see Shubman Gill in the 2019 World Cup.

Since the start of the year, the Punjabi batsman has already struck two hundred and a double century, and he also made 85 in the series-clinching third ODI against the West Indies last week.

"I'm also excited to see how Shubman Gill performs in the World Cup." Another batter to keep an eye on is Rohit Sharma, who fared incredibly well in the previous World Cup, according to Dhawan, referring to Rohit's five hundreds in the 2019 edition.

"We have a very good side that has the right blend of experience and youth," he said of India's chances in the World Cup. We will have the benefit of playing at home. We are familiar with the grounds and pitches, which will come in helpful."