Speaking to Cricbuzz, Sehwag opined that Iyer has confirmed his spot as a No.4 with that knock of 105 against Australia in Indore, hence forming the middle-order lineup with Rahul at No. 5 and Hardik at No. 6.
“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. We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays at No. 4 then it will be Iyer, Rahul and Hardik at No. 4, 5 and 6 respectively,” he said.
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Sehwag, however, raised the question on Hardik's ability to delivery 10 overs for India as a bowler, explaining that it will play a huge role in deciding what the middle-order will be India as well. He further added in case a spot does open up, Ishan should be picked ahead of Suryakumar owing to his left-handed ability.
“Now 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 which had happened in Asia Cup,” he added.
When further questioned on Suryakumar's place in XI, the former India opener said that the batter hasn't yet show his true abilities in the format. And in case he does get an opportunity, probably in the two warm-up matches, then he has to score a big hundred to cause a further selection headache.
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“Suryakumar hasn't done anything big yet in ODI cricket. He only bats in those final 15-20 overs where he utilises his T20 abilities which undoubtedly is important as well. But Hardik, Ishan and Rahul can all do that same job as well. So Iyer is confirmed for No. 4. Suraykumar will have to wait and if he does get a chance at No. 4 he has to score a big hundred and show that he can also score a ton as well,” he said.
Rohan Gavaskar, who was part of the same panel, added to Sehwag's thoughts by warning the management to not make any last-minute changes to the line-up, pointing towards head coach Rahul Dravid's recent revelation. Dravid had said that Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Rahul were India's confirmed middle-order batters 18 months back before an unfortunate turn of events forced India to look at alternatives.
I had read that Dravid said Iyer, Pant and Rahul were India's middle-order lineup. If that is true, making a last-minute change will only show that the management has panicked. The change would have happened had Iyer not been in form. But with that hundred, why make the change,” he said.
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