India are a class outfit but they will go into this year’s World Cup with a soft underbelly having failed to settle on a No.4, says former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar.
With the experienced partnership of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan locked in as openers and captain Virat Kohli coming in at first drop, the twice champions have a top order the rival of any in the game.
Selectors continue to fret over who bats after the second wicket falls, however, with a series of candidates having fluffed their auditions.
Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Lokesh Rahul and Dinesh Karthik have all been trialled for the No.4 spot and been found wanting.
And Manjrekar says: “There was only one little gap that needed to be filled which is No.4... That perfect No.4 India still haven’t found and I don’t think they will find it now.
“So when India goes into the World Cup, it’s a team with genuine class in bowling and batting but with a soft underbelly which will be their middle order.”