Why Shreyas Iyer is Not Batting at No. 4 During ENG vs IND 2nd ODI?

The second ODI match between India and England is being played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. The Indian team management has been experimenting with batting positions and they did a similar thing during this game as well.

India's vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who has been a regular at the No. 4 spot, didn't come out to bat at his usual position during the ENG vs IND 2nd ODI. It was a surprise not to see Iyer at No. 4, raising questions on the team management's call.

Why Shreyas Iyer is Not Batting at No 4?

Shreyas Iyer batting position is No. 4 in ODI cricket and he has done well to justify it. However, the team management, led by the head coach Gautam Gambhir, decided to send Ishan Kishan at this spot. Kishan came into the playing 11 to replace KL Rahul, who was ruled out due to sickness. He was expected to bat at Rahul's position, which is No. 5 or 6 usually in ODIs.

However, since the team management is trying for new combinations ahead of the next year's World Cup, Kishan was promoted up the batting order. Kishan has scored most of his runs at the top order, which may have contributed in his promotion.

The decision to promote Ishan Kishan didn't work out well as the batter was dismissed for just 1 off 8 balls. Iyer, one of the best ODI batsmen currently, replaced Kishan at the crease and came in to bat at No. 5 during the IND vs ENG 2nd ODI.

Shreyas Iyer In Excellent Batting Form

Shreyas Iyer, who also happens to be India's T20I captain, has been in good form on this tour. He was the second highest run-scorer of the ENG vs IND T20I series played before the ODIs, having scored 218 runs in five matches at an average of more than 50. However, his captaincy came under the scrutiny as India lost the series.

Iyer looked in good touch in the first ODI as well. He stitched an important partnership with skipper Shubman Gill to take India out of trouble. However, he was run out for 35 off 53 balls. He will be looking to continue his form for the rest of the series.