Former Indian opener, Kris Srikkanth seems surprised with the exclusion of Suryakumar Yadav from the playing XI of the series opener against Sri Lanka in Guwahati. The Indian team management decided to exclude Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, who score a double hundred in the last ODI he played in Bangladesh. Captain Rohit Sharma, speaking to the press on the eve of the first ODI in Guwahati, clarified that Shubman Gill would be preferred ahead of Ishan due to his consistent run in ODIs in 2022.
Ahead of the ODI series, Suryakumar Yadav scored his 3rd T20I century against Sri Lanka on Sunday. However, he is yet to prove his mettle in ODIs. India playing Shubman Gill ahead of Ishan also meant KL Rahul retained his place as a wicket-keeper batter while Shreyas Iyer was rewarded for his consistent run in ODIs in 2022.
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Speaking to Star Sports about the selection headache that India team management faces in the ODI World Cup year, Kris Srikkanth said, “I think Washington Sundar should have been there. Hardik Pandya is there, he is your vice-captain. He can bowl, so you could have played another spin-bowling all-rounder. It’s important to groom all-rounders in the World Cup year. And Suryakumar Yadav, I am so sorry, I feel bad for him, my dear friend.”
He further added, “Top 5, when I look at it. Tell me who are the impact players? Who is the guy? I don’t believe in this. Bad luck Ishan. ODI cricket is all about impact players. Surya, he has been in tremendous form. He can change the game at any time. In all fairness, we have to give it to Shreyas, he has been consistent. But Surya, they have to find a place for him in the squad. Surya in the XI can do wonders.”
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Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar defended the move, saying he was able to understand why Suryakumar was not picked in the ODI XI for the Guwahati clash.
Sanjay Manjrekar explained, “I would have had Surya but I can understand the logic of leaving him out. All the greatness that we have seen from Surya is in T20I cricket. Shubman Gill, they want to give him a long run. Why not give Ishan Kishan the same when he has got a double hundred? Left-hand, right-hand combination at the top is important.”
