MSK Prasad, former India chief selector believes the 30-year-old Mumbai batsman Suryakumar Yadav can make a big impact in the upcoming limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. India is set to play three ODIs and three T20Is starting July 13th against Sri Lanka.
But with Virat Kohli-led Test squad away in England, India is expected to send a squad of fringe players to Sri Lanka for the limited-overs series. So, MSK Prasad believes that players like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Sanju Samson, who have been excellent in the IPL, can make a great impact in the series.
MSK Prasad Feels Standby For England, Avesh Khan Will Be Unfortunate If He Miss Out On Playing Either Series
MSK Prasad also praised Delhi Capitals fast bowler Avesh Khan, who has been named as a standby in the UK tour, and said it would be unfortunate if the pacer misses both the series.
“Suryakumar Yadav is the guy to watch out for. Ishan and Sanju also have a great opportunity at hand. I would have also loved to see Avesh Khan (named standby for the UK tour). He has been excellent in the IPL, and it would be unfortunate to see him miss out on playing in either series,” Prasad told Sportstar.
While Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar look certain to be included in the Indian side, speculations are rife over who all are going to be included in the side. Young guns like Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, N Jagadeesan, and Chetan Sakariya might get rewarded for a good show in the IPL 2020-2021 while Suryakumar Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ishan Kishan are likely to retain their spots.
Avesh Khan was a find of IPL 2021 for picking 14 wickets in 8 games and being 2nd highest wicket-taker before IPL 2021 was suspended for a surge in Covid-19 cases.
MSK Prasad: Confidence Level Of Modern Cricketers Is High An Example Being Suryakumar Yadav’s First Ball Six On Debut
MSK Prasad further on to went explain how the youngster of today’s generation is differentiating themselves from the players from the bygone era.
“The skill level back then was similar to what we have now. But the confidence levels of the boys today are five times more than what we had then,” Prasad said.
“Simple example: first ball, Suryakumar Yadav, gets an opportunity to play in a T20I game, smashes one of the best bowlers in the world for a six. Or Ishan Kishan, the way he blasted the opposition (England) on debut.”
He went on to make a bold prediction.
“I won’t be surprised if this young squad wins the series in Sri Lanka,” Prasad signed off.
Suryakumar Yadav has so far played two T20I innings. He has scored 89 runs at an average of 44.50 and a strike rate of 185.41. He kicked off his international career with a magnificent six against English speedster Jofra Archer.
Suryakumar Yadav has scored 512, 424, and 484 runs respectively in the last three seasons for Mumbai Indians and played a key role in them winning two titles. Ishan Kishan, another Mumbai Indians batsman scored 56 runs off just 32 balls while Suryakumar Yadav did not get a chance to bat in the 2nd T20I match where both batsmen debuted.
Suryakumar Yadav got the chance to bat in the fourth T20I and went on to score 57 runs from 31 deliveries before scoring a rapid 32 off 17 balls in the series decider T20I and was inducted in the ODI squad.