Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has given his take on India’s recent decision to try out Suryakumar Yadav as an opener in T20Is. The Indian team-management has left many surprised with their decision to promote Suryakumar as an opener in the ongoing T20I series against West Indies. The decision has only extended India’s experiments with the opening slots.
Team India have tried out as many as seven openers already in T20Is this year. Apart from Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda have been tried out as openers too. As of now, there is little clarity over who would be the opener in the upcoming Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup although it is highly likely that Rohit and KL Rahul would open the innings once the latter returns to the team.
Ravi Shastri on Suryakumar’s promotion:
Suryakumar’s promotion as an opener has been receiving different views. The team-management’s decision to promote him despite the presence of the likes of Kishan, Samson and Hooda has surprised many. And it seems like Ravi Shastri is not a big fan of the move too. Shastri gave his take on the matter while talking with Kris Srikanth, Ravi Shastri, Ajay Jadeja and Mohammad Kaif ahead of the second T20I against West Indies.
“Surya is a certainty in the side. Bat him at the number he will bat in the World Cup, as simple as that. If Rohit Sharma is opening the batting, he will open with KL Rahul. If he wants to give practice to someone else, give it to someone who you just want to check out. But a guy who is a certainty and you have decided at what number he is going to bat, let him bat at that number.” Shastri said.
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