"A batter like Shreyas Iyer is needed" - Mohammad Kaif picks his No. 4 for IND vs SA 2025 ODI series

With Shreyas Iyer ruled out of India's ODI series against South Africa due to a rib injury, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has named his choice to bat at No. 4. Kaif reckoned that Dhruv Jurel should slot in, claiming that he can mould his game according to the situation.

Jurel, who has played only Test and T20I cricket for India, received his first ODI call-up during the recent tour of Australia but didn't get a game. He is one of the three wicketkeepers selected in the squad to face the Proteas in the upcoming three-ODI series, and the youngster could make his 50-over international debut.

Reflecting on India's choice for No. 4, Kaif pointed out that the 24-year-old can stabilize the innings if wickets fall early and can also bat throughout the innings should the situation demand. With Iyer finding enormous success at No. 4 for India in ODIs, Kaif believes Jurel must adopt a similar approach. He said in the latest video on his YouTube channel 'Mohammad Kaif':

"Dhruv Jurel should bat at number four because he has an organized technique. He can stabilise the innings if wickets fall early. He can mould his game according to the situation. Jurel also has the potential to finish the game well. A batter like Shreyas Iyer is needed at number four. Iyer helped Virat Kohli quite a bit, especially in the 2023 World Cup. Kohli used to play his natural game, taking singles and doubles along with the odd boundary. Iyer used to dominate in the middle overs due to which India were in an advantageous position most of the time. I think Jurel has to take an approach similar to Iyer."

Kaif also warned that India's seam-bowling department is weak, opining that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is the missing link.

"I don’t see Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad getting an opportunity in the first game. KL Rahul will play at five. Then there is Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. So, there is batting till No.8. Spin department is complete – Sundar, Jadeja, Kuldeep. But if Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana make it to the eleven, who is the third seamer? I don’t consider Reddy as the third seamer, he can be the fourth. Reddy can bowl 3-5 overs but the first-change bowler is equally important. So, Hardik Pandya is that missing link," he added.

Along with Iyer and Shubman Gill, Pandya is also nursing an injury, thus remaining unavailable for the ODI series. The selectors have also rested Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, with KL Rahul set to lead India in the series.

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"Dhruv Jurel is ahead of Rishabh Pant" - Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif. (Image Credits: Mohammad Kaif X)

In the same video, Kaif claimed that Jurel is ahead of Pant as far as ODIs go, given that the latter is returning to the setup after a long time. Pointing out the left-hander's mediocre white-ball record, Kaif said:

"I think Dhruv Jurel is ahead of Rishabh Pant in the pecking order if you consider the playing eleven. He is playing well in Tests, scoring hundreds and is a compact batter. Pant is returning for 2-3 years. I remember Pant scoring a hundred in 2022 in England but plenty of players came after that. His form dipped and couldn’t quite click as a white-ball player. He is not that good in white-ball cricket – averaging 33 in ODIs. Sanju Samson, on the other hand, averages 56 in ODIs."

Kaif continued that Nitish Kumar Reddy has the opportunity to show his potential as a finisher in Pandya's absence.

"There is a void at number six, seven where Hardik Pandya bats. So, a player like Nitish Kumar Reddy needs to prove he can be that finisher. Ravindra Jadeja is not an ODI finisher. KL Rahul does well but cannot score as briskly as Pandya. Someone like Shivam Dube can do well. It’s good Pant is getting an opportunity but I’m surprised Samson is not there despite having a good record," he concluded.

India lost their last ODI series; hence, they will be keen to beat South Africa.

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Edited by Parag Jain