The injury to star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has handed a significant setback to Team India ahead of their headline showdown against New Zealand, the only other unbeaten team in the 2023 World Cup, at Dharamshala on Sunday, October 22.
During the Men in Blue’s recent victory over Bangladesh, Pandya injured his left ankle while attempting to stop the ball on follow-through. Unfortunately, this injury has resulted in him being unable to participate in the upcoming match against New Zealand.
Although he hasn’t had many opportunities to bat due to the top-order players’ dominance, the 30-year-old has shown impressive skills in bowling. He has taken five wickets in four games during the ongoing World Cup.
While his all-round abilities are irreplaceable, the Men in Blue have batting resources in the form of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan.
Although Hardik is anticipated to be healthy for the England match in a week, Team India must choose between Surya and Kishan for the New Zealand match.
Apart from India, the Kiwis have been probably the tournament’s best team, and they have given the hosts some of their most bitter memories in recent ICC championships.
They beat the Men in Blue in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, therefore eliminating them from the 2021 T20 World Cup. New Zealand also defeated India in the final of the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC).
With that in mind, let us examine the many elements that might determine whether Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan starts for Hardik Pandya against New Zealand.
1. Better fit
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan are both capable of filling in for Pandya in their respective roles.
Surya rediscovered his stride as a finisher for Team India in the recent Australia series after a shaky start to his ODI career. In the first ODI, the 33-year-old batted at No. 6 and struck a crucial 49-ball 50 in a tough run chase, and he backed it up with a 72* off 37 deliveries in a different situation the next game, with India batting first. His devastating strokeplay propelled the team to a series-winning 399/5.
Given that the replacement is for a comparable function, Surya, with his capacity to devastate the opposition, should be the obvious pick.
However, Ishan Kishan has the potential to shatter the Indian batting lineup’s dominating right-handedness. Despite never having played at No. 6 in ODIs, the southpaw can be utilized as a floater against New Zealand’s left-arm spin pair of Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra.
Santner had the most wickets in the World Cup off far, with 11 in four games at a meager economy rate of 4.40 runs per over. Kishan’s presence in the Indian middle order might aid in navigating the middle overs against the spinners of New Zealand.
2. Performances against New Zealand – Suryakumar Yadav pips Ishan Kishan
Suryakumar Yadav’s performance against New Zealand provides a much clearer picture in his favor. While neither batsman has a very outstanding ODI record, the right-hander has demolished the Kiwis in the T20 format.
Suryakumar Yadav has scored 284 runs in eight games, with a century and a half-century at an exceptional average of 47.33 and a strike rate of 153.31. This included a stunning 111* off 51 balls in New Zealand late last year and a solid 47 off 34 deliveries earlier this year in Ranchi.
Meanwhile, Kishan has failed immensely in T20Is against New Zealand, with a lowly 14.71 average and strike rate less than a run-a-ball in seven games.
Surya’s recent white-ball play against the Black Caps might be a crucial aspect to consider as India focuses on picking between the Mumbai Indians pair.
3. Recent form
Both batsmen have showed flashes of their best in ODIs recently, with Ishan Kishan hitting a quick run-a-ball 47 against Afghanistan in India’s second World Cup game and Suryakumar Yadav amassing 130 runs in three games against Australia before to the World Cup.
The left-hander also rescued India’s blushes in their Asia Cup opener against Pakistan, scoring 82 off 82 deliveries.
While Ishan Kishan averages 35.07 in ODIs this year, compared to Surya’s 23.58, the majority of the former’s runs came as an opener. Surya was also employed at various spots in the middle order during the West Indies series earlier this year, although he was frequently utilized at No. 6.
In conclusion, it appears to be a coin flip between the two, with Suryakumar Yadav’s superior results versus New Zealand over the last year maybe tipping the scales slightly in his favor.
