For the fourth Twenty20 International of the five-match series against the West Indies, former Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara selected his starting lineup. After winning the third game by 14 runs in Indore, Shreyas Iyer and company are already ahead 2-1. Their goal going into the fourth game in Hyderabad is to finish the series. Pujara stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy needs to be given “one more chance” in reference to the forthcoming competition. The all-rounder has participated in all three of the Windies’ games, amassing 30 runs and claiming two wickets.
Despite the low returns, Pujara stated his support for the all-rounder on JioHotstar. He thinks Reddy has performed well and should be given another chance in the next game at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
He said, “Nitish Kumar Reddy, I think he did a good job. So, I would want to see him get one more chance. I wouldn’t want many changes in the top order. So Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma would open, Ishan Kishan would be at No. 3, Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, and Tilak Varma at No. 5”
Pujara has maintained the top order and placed Reddy at number six in his projected starting lineup for the fourth Twenty20 International. With Ishan Kishan at number three, T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer at number four, and Tilak Varma at number five, the former India batsman supported the opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Naman Dhir at number seven and Axar Patel at number eight make up Pujara’s XI’s middle and lower order. Arshdeep Singh would bat at number nine among the fast bowlers, while Mayank Yadav would also be included in the squad. Pujara emphasised that Yadav ought to be in the team because he has been bowling well.
Pujara added, “Axar Patel at No. 8. Among the fast bowlers, Arshdeep Singh at No. 9. Mayank Yadav is bowling well. So he should also be played. The question for the Indian team in Hyderabad would be how the pitch is. Based on that, either you will go with Prince Yadav or Kuldeep Yadav. That’s the only change I see. They will have to pick between the two. If there is more help for the spinners, you might want to bring back someone like Kuldeep. If the wicket is like Indore, with slight help for the fast bowlers, you will continue with the same playing XI.”
