Cricket World Cup: Sourav Ganguly picks Tilak Varma as one of India's options for No. 4 slot

Speaking at an event where he was announced as the brand face of Denver, Ganguly said, "Who said we don't have a number 4? We have numerous batters. The ones we have, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, are all phenomenal."

"Experience doesn't matter as much.... Cricketers like Jaiswal (Yashasvi Jaiswal), Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan can go and play fearless cricket. I see Tilak Varma as an option as well, being a left-hander," the former India skipper, who took his team to the World Cup final in 2003, added.

Tilak, 20, made his international debut in a T20I match against West Indies. The southpaw top scored for India slamming 39 off just 22 balls.

In the next two matches, Tilak scored 51 and 49 not out.

Though Ganguly says India have ample options to explore for the number four spot, national side skipper Rohit Sharma himself feels the particular batting slot is an "issue" ahead of the World Cup, which will kickstart in October this year.

Rohit had earlier said, "Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), nobody has come and settled themselves in. But, for a long period of time, Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well - his numbers are really good."

"Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble; he has been out for a while and that is honestly what has happened in the last 4-5 years. A lot of these guys have got injured and you will always see a new guy coming and playing there."

Combining the batting and bowling strength with the latter having names like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami et al, Ganguly has summed up Team India as a formidable force to reckon with in the World Cup, which will be played in the subcontinent this year.

"I have always said that it's how a team play during that tournament. It doesn't change. India will always be favourites. How Rohit Sharma, Pandya (Hardik Pandya, vice captain) and Dravid (coach) take the team on the ground will be very important," the former cricket board (BCCI) president said.

As per Ganguly, Australia, England, India, Pakistan and New Zealand are the top favourites for the big tournament, which begins on Oct 5 with a clash between England and New Zealand.

"I presume, Australia will be one, England are a good side, India, Pakistan, don't rule New Zealand out as they have always done well in big tournaments," he said.

India, who had clinched the title twice, had won the World Cup in 2011 when they had played on their own soil.