For years, whenever we spoke about Indian batting, two names dominated every conversation: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But while the spotlight stayed on them, another man quietly became the heartbeat of India’s ODI batting: Shreyas Iyer.
The No. 4 India Spent Years Searching For
Let’s be honest, India’s No. 4 spot was a national headache for years. From KL Rahul to Rishabh Pant, from Ambati Rayudu to Vijay Shankar at the 2019 World Cup, the search never seemed to end. Every tournament, same question: “Who’s our No. 4?”
And then came Shreyas Iyer. Confident, composed, and consistent. He didn’t just fill the position, he owned it. His performances have been so good that he’s now India’s vice-captain in ODIs, a testament to how essential he’s become in the lineup.
Numbers That Speak Louder Than Hype
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Iyer hammered 530 runs in 11 innings, averaging over 66 with a strike rate of 113. That’s the most runs ever scored by a No. 4 batter in a single World Cup.
Fast forward to the 2025 Champions Trophy; he piled up 243 runs at an average of 49, leading India’s run charts during their title run. Overall? 1821 runs in 41 innings, averaging 52, striking at 100 at No. 4. No exaggeration, those are elite numbers.
The Calm in the Chaos
What makes Iyer special isn’t just his stats. It’s his temperament. He’s calm under pressure, never flashy without reason, but lethal when needed. He reads the game like a chess player, knows when to anchor, when to explode, and when to let others shine.
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