Suryakumar Yadav was run out after scoring two runs on his ODI World Cup debut.
Harbhajan Singh stressed that batter Suryakumar Yadav becomes very important for Team India in the absence of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya as India prepare for England clash in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
India will play England in their 6th match of the tournament in Lucknow on Sunday, October 29. India has won all five of its matches thus far, while England have lost 3 out of four matches.
Hardik Pandya injured his left ankle against Bangladesh and missed India’s previous encounter against New Zealand in Dharamshala. He is also set to miss the next two matches of the tournament, with reports claiming he has a grade 1 ligament tear.
Ahead of the India versus England match in Lucknow, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that Suryakumar becomes very crucial for the Men in Blue in Pandya’s absence in the tournament.
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Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube Channel: “Hardik Pandya is unlikely to be available for the next two games. In Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav becomes very important. He will bat at the crucial No. 6 position. He was a little unlucky in the last game.”
Notably, Suryakumar was run out after scoring two runs on his ODI World Cup debut against New Zealand. However, Virat Kohli managed to take India to a memorable win over the Black Caps after 20 years with his incredible knock of 95 runs.
The 2011 World Cup winner continued, “He got run out following a mix-up with Virat Kohli while he was batting. If Suryakumar had stayed there, the match wouldn’t have gone so far. Till Virat Kohli was there out in the middle, there was no need to worry.”
Harbhajan signed off by saying, “Suryakumar Yadav will be a crucial member for this team. I feel if he gets a chance, he will make up for the run out. His performances in ODIs in the recent series against Australia were worth watching.”