Virat Kohli and KL Rahul managed to pull off a remarkable recovery at Chepauk on Sunday, preventing a shameful loss for India in the 2023 ICC World Cup. The team was in complete turmoil, falling to 2-3 in just 1.6 overs, despite the high expectations for a home-turf victory. After losing three key top-order wickets and posting one of the worst totals in World Cup history, Shreyas Iyer became a target for criticism, most notably from former star Yuvraj Singh on social media.
After witnessing the sudden collapse of the batting order, the 2011 World Cup hero shared his concerns regarding who should occupy the number four position. Yuvraj argued that KL Rahul should have been prioritized over Iyer in the lineup. This particular failure was unprecedented in ODI history, as three of the top four batters were sent back to the pavilion without scoring a single run.
According to Yuvraj, the number four batter is responsible for stabilizing the innings under pressure, a role he believes Iyer failed to execute properly. He questioned the logic behind the batting order, wondering why Rahul wasn't batting fourth following his brilliant performance against Pakistan. He further noted that Australia suffered heavily for letting Kohli stay in the game, reminding everyone that Kohli has the power to dominate any match.
Yuvraj praised the resilience shown under pressure to bring the team back into the contest, stating that Kohli's century was well-deserved and a perfect way to kick off the World Cup. Meanwhile, the Men in Blue are now preparing for their next challenge against Afghanistan, scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.