Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles in the 50-over format is fast becoming a major concern for Team India. The right-handed batsman was handed his ODI cap after making a stunning start to his T20I career.
And he began his ODI career on a promising note. In his first 6 innings, he smashed 2 fifties while crossing the 30-run mark in the other 4 innings. Things, however, have not gone well in ODIs since then. While he has gone from strength to strength in T20Is and is currently the number 1 ranked batsman in the world, his form in ODIs has been nothing less than a disaster.
In the ongoing series against Australia, he was given a golden chance to cement his place in the team ahead of the World Cup. With Shreyas Iyer not a part of the team due to a back injury, the right-handed batsman had the chance to nail his spot by delivering in the middle-order.
However, he has failed spectacularly in the series so far. In the first two ODIs, he was out for a golden duck on both the occasions with Mitchell Starc being his tormentor. The latest failures have only extended his unimpressive run in the 50-over format.
Rohit Sharma on Suryakumar Yadav’s poor ODI form:
Following the failures against Australia, Suryakumar Yadav has been facing the flak from the critics. India skipper Rohit Sharma, however, has made it clear that the team-management would back the batsman. Speaking to the media after the second ODI, the skipper said that the team management was not judging the batsman’s performances in ODI cricket.
“We don’t know about Iyer’s return. So, at this point in time, there is a spot available. So we have to play him (Suryakumar). He has shown a lot of potential with the white-ball and I have said it many a times before, guys with potential will be given a run,” Rohit Sharma told the reporters.
“Of course, we have seen and he knows that he needs to do well in the slightly-longer format of the game as well. Things are there in his mind as well. Guys with potential will have enough run so that they don’t feel like ‘okay I wasn’t given enough chances in that particular slot,” he added.
“Surya got out in the last two games and in the series before that as well. He needs that consistent run, like back-to-back games, 7, 8 and 10 games like that. So that he feels more comfortable.
“Right now, he has gotten the place when someone is injured or when someone has not been available. That doesn’t solve the purpose as the management can’t look into his performances so much.
“When you give that consistent run, then you feel okay, the runs are not coming, he is looking uncomfortable and things like that. Then we will start thinking about it, right now we are not thinking in that route,” he added.
Meanwhile, India suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against Australia in the second ODI. Bowling first, Australia bowled out the hosts for just 117 runs before quickfire fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head helped them chase down the total in just 11 overs.