Suryakumar Yadav’s dominance in T20I cricket is undeniable, yet the ODI format has posed challenges for the talented batter. Yadav himself recently acknowledged this issue. However, Captain Rohit Sharma has expressed his unwavering support for the stylish player, advocating for a series of additional matches to help him adapt to the ODI format ahead of the impending ODI World Cup scheduled for October-November.

Sharma acknowledged Yadav’s T20 finesse and highlighted his earnest efforts to elevate his performance in ODIs. The skipper emphasized that while Yadav has received substantial backing from the management and is still in contention, he is grappling with the transition to the demands of the 50-over game.

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Speaking at a La Liga event in Mumbai, Rohit Sharma stated, “There is no question about his ability in the T20 format. The challenges (in ODIs) are different. He is really working hard, and he is talking to a lot of guys who have played a lot of ODI cricket as to what attitude and mindset (to have). Surya is also in the mix. The team management backs him to come good in ODIs, but despite the chances, he is yet to adapt,” as quoted by India Today.

In his 26 ODI appearances, the 32-year-old, known for his T20 prowess, has managed just 511 runs with a disappointing average of 24.33. Sharma emphasized Yadav’s affinity for a free-flowing approach and the challenge of imposing specific conditions on him.

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“He is the kind of player you also have to give him that freedom to go and bat the way he does. You cannot tell him to face 100 balls and make 50 runs. It is important to give a batter like him the cushion of extra games so that he finds that groove, and gets that confidence. The way he started IPL this year, in the first 4-5 games he did not have too many runs, but look what he did after that,” Rohit Sharma concluded.