Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad feels that the Indian 360-degree batter Suryakumar Yadav will be part of the India squad for the ODI World Cup in India despite his poor form in the 50-over format of the game. The 32-year-old could not make an impact for the team in the recently concluded West Indies ODI Series.
Suryakumar Yadav’s form has been a cause of concern for the Indian team in the 50-over format. There were many talks around, his performance in the ODI format as he failed to capitalize on the limited opportunity. The Mumbai-born batter has scored only two half-centuries in the 25 matches, he has played so far in ODIs with a poor average of 23.8.
Speaking to India Today, MSK Prasad feels that Suryakumar Yadav will be a certainty for the World Cup in India as he has been World No.1 player in the T20 format and a special player who has the ability to absorb the pressure to take on the high-quality teams having shown his calibre in IPL and for the country in T20 format and believes that he can be match-winner for Indian provide an opportunity in the team.
“I am 100 per cent sure that Suryakumar will go to the World Cup. If someone can be a No. 1 player in the T20 format, it means he has special talent which we have seen in the T20Is that he has played for the country and in the IPL. We know about his ability to soak in pressure.
“I personally feel that he has still not got hold of his role in the team. If he gets hold of his role and plays accordingly, I am sure he will be one of the biggest match-winners and the best finisher for India in the World Cup. He has got the ability and we need to back him,” MSK Prasad said.
It was reported that the Indian team management has handed Suryakumar Yadav the new role of the finisher at the No.6 spot in the ODI team after his poor performance at the No.4 spot. The Indian think-tank believes that the World’s No.1 T20 batter is capable of playing an attacking brand of cricket lower down the order.
I Am Sure That Would Be Huge Relief To Suryakumar Yadav – MSK Prasad
MSK Prasad hailed Indian team management Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid for giving a proper role to Suryakumar Yadav in ODI Cricket as it will help him to do well as a finisher for India and asserted that the Mumbai batter can prepare according to the requirement of the team.
“What Rohit and Dravid have now done is fantastic, probably they have given him role clarity. That will definitely help him because that (the finisher’s role) is the situation he enjoys the most.
“I am sure that would be a huge relief to Suryakumar and he can also start planning accordingly,” MSK Prasad added.
It is said that Team India chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma had a long discussion regarding the role of Suryakumar Yadav in the team, as they want to utilize his power-hitting capability batting at death overs for India as he has the ability to take on the pacer and spinners at any stage of the innings.