West Indies legend Brian Lara has suggested that India should have Suryakumar Yadav batting at no.3 in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament will be played in the USA and the West Indies from June 1-29.

BCCI recently named the 15-member India squad and Suryakumar Yadav was named as one of the players that will don the India colors in the ICC event. Suryakumar Yadav is still the no.1 ranked T20I batter in the ICC rankings, despite last playing for India in January this year.

West Indies captain Brian Lara has suggested that Suryakumar Yadav has to bat at No. 3 as he can put India in an unassailable position if he gets to bat 10-15 overs in a match.

Lara also gave the example of great Sir Viv Richards and said that Suryakumar, like the legendary Windies batter, wants to get out in the middle as soon as they can.

“My one advice and I don’t know if you’re going to like it or not, but Sky has to bat at three. He just has to bat at three. He is one of the greatest T20 players in the game. And you speak to players like Sir Viv, and he will tell you he used to want to get out there in the middle.

And I feel that that’s the same thing with SKY. So, get in on it as quickly as possible. He’s not an opener, get him out there and if he can bat for 10-15 overs, you know what’s going to happen. He’s going to put you in an unassailable position if you bat him first, or he’s going to win the game if he’s batting second. And then let everybody sort of position themselves outside of that, but a good structure is important,” Lara told PTI.

The talk around Kohli’s strike rate has been incessant but Lara reckons players like him are needed in the playing eleven.

“You have to have a player like Virat in the playing eleven. Suryakumar usually bats at number four for India and Kohli at three. Kohli opening the innings alongside Rohit to accommodate Surya at three is an option that will leave Yashasvi Jaiswal on the bench. Just find a way to make Suryakumar bat at three,” stressed Lara.

(PTI inputs)