Sehwag decoded the middle-order line-up of India for WC XI and said, “Suryakumar hasn't done anything big yet in ODI"
Both Iyer and Suryakumar were among the last to have ticked the box for the World Cup, with the former scoring a century in the second ODI match against Australia while the latter smashed back-to-back half centuries in the series.
Speaking to Sehwag, he opined that Iyer has confirmed his spot as 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.
He said, “At No. 6 and 7, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won't be in 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 come 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 further added that, “Now it depends on how India looks 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 happened in the Asia Cup.”