Suryakumar To Grab Shreya’s Place Ahead His Injury? Read What Rohit Sharma Says

The former Indian captain Rohit Sharma said right-handed batter Suryakumar Yadav, who has been handed the golden opportunity of making his case for the ODI 2023 World Cup, that Suryakumar has to perform well, and the team management will give him a longer run. Looking at Yadav’s previous matches, he was dismissed in an identical manner in the first two ODIs against Australia.

On Sunday, the contest was Yadav’s 16th ODI without a fifty; with an unbeaten 34 against New Zealand his highest score.

The Indian batter, Suryakumar Yadav had walked out at No. 4, a spot vacated by Shreyas Iyer, who is out due to a back injury with no return ultimatum mentioned.

Rohit Sharma’s stance on Suryakumar Yadav

After India’s 10-wicket defeat to Australia in the second ODI, Rohit Sharma told the media, “We don’t know about (Shreyas) Iyer’s return. At this time there is a spot available so we have to play him (Suryakumar). He has obviously shown a lot of potential with white ball and I have said it many times before (that) guys with potential will be given some run.”

The ex-captain added, “Of course, he knows that he needs to do while in a slightly longer format of the game as well. I think things are there in his mind as well. As I said, guys with potential will have enough run where you know they should not feel that ‘Okay, You know I wasn’t given enough chances in that particular slot’.”

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‘Yadav is comfortable with the format’

Rohit Sharma also said that Suryakumar would be given a “consistent run” so that he feels comfortable with the format.

Further, he said, “Yes he got out in the last two games and the series before that as well, but he needs that consistent run, like back-to-back games, 7-8 or 10 games like that so that, you know, he feels more comfortable.”

“Right now, he has got in the place when someone’s been injured or someone’s not available. As management, we can look into the performance when you give that consistent run and then you feel that okay, the runs are not coming and (he’s) not looking comfortable. Then, we will start thinking about it. Right now, we have not gone that route,” Rohit explained.

Speaking about Sunday’s match, he said that the players did not apply themselves well during the first innings wherein they were shot out for 117 in just 26 overs.

“We did not bat well. It was not the pitch where we could have gotten out for 117. We didn’t apply ourselves. When you lose a couple of wickets early, it’s important to create a partnership or two so that you can get back into the game,” he added.

“When you have only 117 runs on the board, the (opposition) batters have nothing to lose other than to come and try and swing the bat,” Rohit said.