Rayudu promises to end India’s No.4 woes
NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma struck yet another ‘daddy hundred’ but it was probably Ambati Rayudu’s relatively modest century on Monday which pleased India captain Virat Kohli more as he seeks an end to a pesky problem seven months before next year’s World Cup.
An undercooked middle order has been the direct result of having an in-form trio - Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli - at the top of India’s batting order of late.
The problem has been acute at number four with Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Lokesh Rahul and Dinesh Karthik being trialled at the crucial spot and found inadequate.
Rayudu’s second 50-plus score in four matches against West Indies has filled Kohli with optimism he may not need to fret over the issue anymore.
“Rayuduhastakenhisopportunity with both hands,” Kohli said after the team’s victory in the fourth one-dayer against West Indies in Mumbai.
“We need to back him till the World Cup and give him more confidence. He is feeling good about his game and he is a very confident man.”
Rayudu exhibited both sides of his batting in his 211-run stand with Rohit on Monday, first playing second fiddle to his partner and then using the long handle to good effect in his brilliantly paced knock of 100.
In the end, he matched Rohit’s four sixes and also reached the 50 and 100 marks in fewer balls than his partner.
“He reads the game really well, so we are happy that someone with intelligence is batting at number four,” Kohli said.
Rohit was equally impressed with the ability of Rayudu, who registered his third ODI century on Monday, to play according to the situation.
“I think it’s a very important knock,” the India vice-captain said of the 33-year-old. “Hopefully he has solved all the mysteries of number four. I guess till the World Cup, there won’t be any talk of number four.”
KHALEEL REPRIMANDED
Meanwhile, Indian paceman Khaleel Ahmed has received an official warning for aggressively charging towards West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels in the fourth ODI in Mumbai, the International Cricket Council announced on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old Ahmed fell foul of the global governing body’s code of conduct during the 14th over in West Indies’ chase on Monday when he yelled at Samuels after taking his wicket.
“The left-armer, after having Marlon Samuels caught in the slips by Rohit Sharma, advanced aggressively towards the departing batter, which, in the view of the onfield umpires, could have provoked a reaction from the Windies player,” said an ICC statement.
Ahmed, who has played five ODIS since making his debut in September, returned career-best figures of 3-13 in India’s crushing win over West Indies .
One demerit point has now been added to Ahmed’s disciplinary record after he admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad.