Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag spoke about his choice of India XI in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 and made a huge statement about Suryakumar Yadav and whether the batter warrants a place in the playing eleven.
Suryakumar Yadav recently made back-to-back half-centuries in the Australia ODI series which included a knock of 72* in 37 balls in Indore. India completed the series by winning it 2-1, as they lost the third match in Rajkot to Australia.
Suryakumar is in serious competition for a spot in the Indian middle order. KL Rahul made good scores, while Shreyas Iyer made a brilliant century in Indore. Ishan Kishan had done well in the Asia Cup and even in the Indore ODI, smashing 31 in 18 balls.
Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag discussed his India playing XI and opined that Iyer has confirmed his spot as a No.4 with that knock of 105 against Australia in Indore, hence forming the middle-order lineup with Rahul at No. 5 and Hardik at No. 6.
“At No. 6 and 7 KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won't be there at either of those positions. There is No. 5 though. But if Hardik Pandya is your sixth bowler then Rahul will bat at No. 5, and Hardik at No. 6, then comes the bowlers. We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays at No. 4 then it will be Iyer, Rahul, and Hardik at No. 4, 5, and 6 respectively,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
Sehwag, however, raised the question of Hardik's ability to deliver 10 overs for India as a bowler, explaining that it will play a huge role in deciding what the middle order will be in India as well.
“Now it depends on how India looks at this combination, whether they feel Hardik will certainly bowl 10 overs because that will give India an extra bowler. So then Suryakumar cannot fit in there and even if there is a slot, then Ishan should be picked ahead because he is a left-hander which had happened in Asia Cup,” he added
Sehwag also spoke about Suryakumar Yadav and said that the batter hasn't yet shown his true abilities in the format. And if he gets a chance in either of the two warm-up matches, Surya needs to score a big hundred to instill confidence.
“Suryakumar hasn't done anything big yet in ODI cricket. He only bats in those final 15-20 overs where he utilizes his T20 abilities which undoubtedly is important as well. But Hardik, Ishan, and Rahul can all do that same job as well. So Iyer is confirmed for No. 4. Suraykumar will have to wait and if he does get a chance at No. 4 he has to score a big hundred and show that he can also score a ton as well,” he said.
Rohan Gavaskar, who was part of the same panel, added to Sehwag's thoughts by warning the management to not make any last-minute changes to the line-up.
“I had read that Dravid said Iyer, Pant, and Rahul were India's middle-order lineup. If that is true, making a last-minute change will only show that the management has panicked. The change would have happened had Iyer not been in form. But with that hundred, why make the change,” he said.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
