Suryakumar Yadav has experienced a difficult week in the ODI series against Australia, with three consecutive golden ducks and no runs scored. His lack of confidence was evident as he left the field in Chennai. While it may be unusual for someone who excels in one form of white-ball cricket to stumble in the slightly longer format, there are valid arguments for giving him another chance in the one-day format. Making sure that Team India can rely on SKY’s well-honed skill of high-risk approach play as a finisher would be beneficial. Here are three reasons why Suryakumar Yadav should play as a finisher in ODIs:
3) Incredible T20I stats
SKY’s impressive performances in the ICC T20I Men’s Player of the Year and being top of the rankings have certainly been outstanding! In just 48 T20Is, he has an incredible score of 1675 runs at a remarkable average of 46.52 with a strike rate of 175.76, including three hundred. This has led to a few opportunities in ODIs, yet he still needs consistent playing time in the No.6 position to get the most out of that. It would be ideal if the team management could find a way for SKY to remain consistent at No.6 and maintain such a great strike rate.
2) There is clarity in Suryakumar Yadav’s thought
The first ball Suryakumar Yadav smacked in international cricket was sent flying over the boundary by Jofra Archer. This moment was just a glimpse of how he would go on to dominate T20s with his impressive strike rate. His clear thought process and decision-making has enabled him to accumulate consistent runs. If his same level of understanding and determination is carried to the ODI format, there’s no doubt that SKY could become a key element for the Indian team.
1) Experienced batters can bat higher
The opener of the ODI series against Australia made it evident that KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya possess technical prowess and an aptitude for handling the moving ball. Sadly, Suryakumar Yadav did not have the same luck and was dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the first two ODIs. Perhaps Rahul and Hardik should shift to the fourth and fifth batting positions, respectively, to give SKY a chance to bat at sixth. This way, senior players can become more familiar with the pitch before Suryakumar Yadav reap the fruits of their labor.
