Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels that Suryakumar Yadav should continue to bat at no.3 for India in T20Is even when Virat Kohli returns to the fold.
Suryakumar Yadav was the Player of the Match in the first T20I against New Zealand at Jaipur. Batting at No.3, the right-handed batter looked a class apart, and along with skipper Rohit Sharma stitched a partnership of 59 runs.
Yadav looked in a great rhythm and never allowed the New Zealand bowlers to settle down in the middle-overs and carved his way through his third T20I half-century. He smashed 3 sixes and 6 boundaries in his knock of 62 runs and helped Team India take a lead of 1-0 in the series.
Read Also: Wicket slowed towards the end but happy to be on the winning side- Suryakumar Yadav
Speaking to Star Sports, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir said that Suryakumar Yadav’s ability to play shots all around the park makes him difficult to bowl and he should continue to bat at No.3 even when Virat Kohli comes back in the side.
"He (Suryakumar) has got many options. He plays spin very well. He has got all the shots, he is a 360 player as well. That is what makes him very difficult to bowl at. When Virat Kohli comes back, I still want to see Suryakumar bat at No. 3 and Virat at No. 4," he said.
Gambhir suggested that Suryakumar batting at no.3 for India will help Team India continue the momentum set by the openers. He added that Virat Kohli can play the role of the anchor at No.4 as Steve Smith does for Australia and can manage in the middle if wickets fall early.
"That gives India an option to continue with the momentum because Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are very explosive at the top. And Surya at No. 3 could be your best option because he can continue the momentum and Virat can be an anchor at No.4 probably like how Steve Smith has been for Australia. If you lose a couple of early wickets, Virat can manage that middle order," he said.
Gambhir said that if Virat Kohli bats at No.3 then there will be hardly any experience in the middle order. He remarked that the former T20I skipper will have to play the ‘most important' role of anchor and bring the middle order together.
"So once, Virat gets in, I still want to see Surya batting at No. 3 because he will win you many more games while batting at No. 3. If you bat Virat at No. 3, then there is hardly any experience in that middle order with Surya, Rishabh following. So Virat will probably have to play that most important role, play that anchor role and bring the middle-order together," he said.
Read Also: "He knows my weakness, I know his strength," says Rohit Sharma on face-off with Trent Boult
Gautam Gambhir said that though he admire Suryakumar Yadav for the way he batted, he should've finished the game for his side. He added that it doesn’t matter if a player scores 60 or 70, he should show maturity and finish the games for his side.
"Very disappointing. Though I really admire him for the way he bats, he really needs to finish off as well. It's not important how you start, it's important how you finish. It doesn't matter if you get a 60 or a 70, it's important to finish games. That's what maturity is all about," he said
The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played on 19th November in Ranchi.
(Star Sports inputs)
