India batter Suryakumar Yadav took the cricketing world by storm with his batting exploits in the shortest format of the game last year.

The dashing right-hander played 31 T20I innings in 2022, amassing 1164 runs at an average of 46.56 and a remarkable strike rate of 187.43, including two hundreds and nine half-centuries. As a result, he earned the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year honour.

However, Suryakumar has failed to make as much mark in the 50-over format. In 22 ODIs so far, he has scored 433 runs at an average of 25.47 with two fifties. Yadav has been dismissed for two successive golden ducks in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.

Despite the poor numbers, veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes Suryakumar Yadav is a “non-negotiable” in ODIs.

“Suryakumar in ODIs is a non-negotiable,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz. “He would have gotten out on those two deliveries even in T20s. It is not that because it is ODIs, he is getting out. This is high-quality bowling, irrespective of the format. He played the two ODIs now and prior to that he didn’t play consistently. Shreyas Iyer was the preferred No.4 and rightfully so and Surya was the back-up option.”

Karthik then explained why Suryakumar must bat lower in the 50-over format.

“Where we need to be with Surya is remind ourselves of the talent he is. What I like to see is can they fit in Surya at a different place to get the best out of him. I feel, Hardik enjoys batting up top so is there a possibility of sending him at No.4 and Surya at six. It is so because when you give him 15-18 overs, the way he is able to turn the game on its head is very very good.

“And irrespective of whether there are 5 or 4 fielders inside the circle he is able to hit boundaries at will and make a mockery out of the captain. When you give Surya lesser overs, 14-18 overs, he is at his venomous best.”

Suryakumar Yadav will be next seen in action in the third ODI against Australia, slated to be held at Chepauk on Tuesday (March 22).