Yuvraj Singh, a stalwart of the game who has done wonders for Indian cricket for over 15 years. When it comes to standing up in big tournaments, there is no one who has done better than the Southpaw. The Under-19 World Cup, T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, you name it, he has won them all for the country.
A player who fought cancer bravely and made a stunning comeback into the game, it’s a hugely inspirational story for the ages. One of the best players to have ever graced the game for the nation has been the crowd favorite for a number of years. But there is absolutely no denying the fact that the prowess is diminishing with each passing year.
The left-hander is no more the player he once used to be. The Yuvraj who smacked Stuart Broad for 6 sixes once, now is seen struggling on the cricket field. The best fielder in the side is now becoming a liability with his lackluster body language. His form with the bat has also suffered and the fluent Yuvraj is nowhere to be seen.
For a cricket fan, it hurts badly to see a cricketing hero fighting for survival. With the next ODI World Cup under 2 years from now, it makes sense for him to decide on his future. At the moment, it seems unlikely that he will be in the thick of things for the next World Cup and hence it gives us the opportunity to look at his potential replacements.
Here are the 5 players who can take Yuvraj’s place at number 4
#1 Ajinkya Rahane
The right-hander has been a prolific run-getter for India in Test cricket but somehow he hasn’t been able to transform the same in 50-overs cricket. He has been assumed to be an opener in ODI cricket but gets an opportunity only in the absence of the regular openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
He did well in the Windies opening the innings but once Rohit comes back in the side, he will snatch the slot undoubtedly. If Rahane can mould his game to suit the needs of a middle-order batsman, he can be a useful No.4. His best innings in ODIs of 79 came batting at that position against South Africa in the 2015 ODI World Cup. If he can play that kind of innings regularly, he can be a useful prospect.