Team India dropped Suryakumar Yadav in the 3rd T20I after not getting a chance to bat in his debut game and also changed the batting position of Ishan Kishan, who had scored a half-century on debut opening the batting.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is not happy with the team management backing only the players that have been playing for years.
Suryakumar Yadav, 30, made his international debut in the 2nd T20I against England. He has pushed down the order and did not get a chance to bat. To his surprise, he was dropped from the next game when opener Rohit Sharma came back into the side.
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Gambhir told ESPNCricInfo, "It amazes me, seven months before the World Cup he starts preparing for World Cup, and probably after the World Cup he will start preparing for the next World Cup. It really doesn't matter, the kind of form you are in matters. Imagine if there is an injury issue, what have you seen of Suryakumar Yadav, what have you seen of Suryakumar Yadav in international cricket."
"I hope nobody gets injured but if there is an injury case and somebody needs to bat at number 4 and number 5. For example, there has to be a replacement for Shreyas Iyer, who are you gonna go for. So at least look at someone whom you have got into the setup."
"Probably give him that 'opportunity in three or four games and see where he stands. If he delivers, you have got a backup for someone already batting at number four. If you get someone plays him in that series and sees what he is giving in the future," he added.
The 39-year-old also criticized the Indian team management for not sticking to the right 'preparation' for the T20 World Cup 2021.
"We keep talking about preparations but this is just no preparation for the World Cup. It's just about looking at the same players what you have seen for so many years," Gambhir said.
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The southpaw also cited the example of Manish Pandey, who is now 31 years of age and is not in the news despite being sidelines from the T20I squad after warming the benches for quite a long time. Sanju Samson, too, seems to have been ignored.
He fears that Suryakumar might miss out on playing a lot for India if some youngster performs in the IPL.
He said, "It would hurt me if I was Suryakumar Yadav, if I was in his position, what I am not 21-22, I know I am 30. We know what happens in Indian cricket, once you turn 30, the insecurity starts creeping in. Look at what has happened to Manish Pandey, no one even talks about him, Look at Sanju Samson, no one probably asks the question where is Sanju Samson."
"You will ask Suryakumar Yadav, you will give him a couple of games and suddenly if he doesn't perform you will say 'oh we are looking at another youngster'. Someone does well in the IPL you will start talking about him. more. That's unfortunate, if you made a debut you got to give him 3 or 4 games."
"Ishan Kishan scored a brilliant fifty while opening and now he has been pushed to 3. This is not backing," he complained.
