India's best laid plans have worked a charm

Familiarity and role clarity have helped Rohit and Co ace different conditions and missing players

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Four years ago, KL Rahul began the World Cup by batting at No. 4 and No. 6 in the first two games before moving up to open after Shikhar Dhawan's injury. Four players occupied the No. 4 slot across ten matches. Dinesh Karthik, who had batted once in the tournament before the semi-final, was asked to go in at No. 5 against New Zealand when the team was 5/3. Rishabh Pant wasn't part of the original squad and had played a total of five ODIS before the World Cup, but he was batting at No. 4 in that semi-final. Ambati Rayudu's omission, after months of him believing he was India's No. 4 for the tournament, caused quite a stir too.

These may be top-notch players equipped to handle different challenges and situations, but it can't be advisable to expect excellence at the biggest stage without providing familiarity and role clarity.

Cut to this World Cup, and the contrast is palpable. In the flawless eight-game winning run that India have had, there's been complete clarity about the roles that each of them dons. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are tasked with providing fast starts in the powerplay. Virat Kohli is the anchor at No. 3 who holds the innings together.

Shreyas Iyer and Rahul, at No. 4 and No. 5, have to be flexible with their approach during the middle overs. And now that Hardik Pandya is ruled out of the tournament, Suryakumar Yadav must provide the finishing kick at No. 6 along with Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7.