Tilak Varma in India’s ODI World Cup plans as selectors look for Shreyas Iyer’s support

India’s Shreyas Iyer, centre, with batting partner Tilak Varma (AP/PTI) New Delhi: The Indian team management and selectors are working on the reserves for the middle order ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup. TOI has learned that Tilak Varma’s name has come up as a potential back-up option for Shreyas Iyer in the top six of the batting line-up.A left-handed batsman, Tilak is seen as someone who can break the monotony of right-handers in the batting line-up. Tilak has been asked to work on his bowling as his breaks are believed to have great potential. In fact, the team management cited the lack of bowling options in the top order and cited it as the reason for the increased pressure on the lower order and bowlers.Planning for the ODI World Cup will begin in earnest only after India reach New Zealand in October, as most of the first-choice players will not be available for the home ODI series against the West Indies from September 27. A full strength T20 team is also due to travel to Japan for the Asian Games at the same time.“Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel that there is no backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy being injury-prone, they want someone in the top order who can field at least four overs in ODIs,” a BCCI source said.During the last year, the team management was forced to play either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel at No. 5 or No. 6 to balance the playing XI. In the last series in England, Ishan Kishan was sent ahead of vice-captain Iyer.“The team needs to be prepared for the conditions in South Africa for the World Cup. Iyer was injured in Australia and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late. The team already has two aging players in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are also struggling. Also, KL Rahul will be over 35 by the time of the World Cup. The team has suffered some fitness because of Jadeja. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready,” the source said.

Voters are wary of moving the dough

It has been found that selectors are not comfortable playing batsmen out of position. Ruturaj Gaikwad played at No.4 last year and scored a set against South Africa in Raipur. But he has not been selected for the ODI team since then.“Gaikwad was picked as a back-up as Gill got injured. The team management feels that Tilak could have been tried in that spot. That’s why they don’t want to rush Devdutt Padikkal in the ODI setup as he has found his calling in white-ball cricket opening the batting,” the source said.However, the squad for the West Indies series will be an anomaly as Iyer, Tilak, Ishan and Axar will not be available. Voters are more focused on picking the next wicketkeeper for the series.

Squad for Afg series likely by September 3rd

The selection committee is scheduled to meet by September 3 to select the squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi from September 13.Sources said the selectors are likely to keep the team selected for the next Asian Games. Official fitness reports of Hardik, Nitish Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah are awaited. Varun Chakravarthy has regained full fitness, he is learned.