Australian batting great Matthew Hayden, expressed confidence in India's young guns Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill on Monday, August 21, after their inclusion in India's squad for the Asia Cup 2023.
Despite an outstanding 890-run performance in IPL 2023, Gill faced challenges during the West Indies tour, managing just two half-centuries in ten games across all formats. On the other hand, Varma shone brightly during the T20I series against the Caribbean team, earning him his maiden spot on the India ODI team.
“(It) is this extreme talent, especially within the batting sense, that brings India to life. Gill hasn't played a lot of one-day cricket for his country yet. Tilak Varma hasn't played a game of one-day cricket for his country. But that doesn't mean they're not able to deliver. And this is what we've seen in the IPL. We've seen names which otherwise you'd have absolutely zero idea of, come to the IPL, not an international stage but certainly an international event, and set it alight. So, I feel very confident in the fact that Indian cricket is in good hands," Hayden told media here on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Award.
Highlighting the strength of India’s batting lineup, Hayden mentioned names like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma. Echoing Rohit Sharma’s sentiments, he said, “When you look at India’s middle-order, you look at Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma… those 3-4 players, and Rohit Sharma described it best. He said ‘you can look at anyone at those numbers but ultimately it's not one of them that wins you the World Cup."
However, the former Australian opener voiced his surprise over the exclusion of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from the Asia Cup squad, deeming it a "big omission." He commented on the challenging task for selectors, given the presence of another talented spinner, Kuldeep Yadav.
“There're some big omissions. Chahal in particular, that leg-spinner is such a superb player and (it) must be tough for the selectors because they've also got another one in Kuldeep (Yadav).... he's a superb player. So, they've gone for that as an option,” Hayden said.
Talking further about Varma's inclusion, Hayden said it could be a move with other big events in mind.
"In the lead up to World Cups, you're always going to have some players and we've seen the class of Tilak Varma. I think it's a good strategy in terms of not just this World Cup but even potentially getting into the next World Cup (T20 World Cup 2024) as well,” he said.
Discussing Varma's selection, Hayden sees it as a forward-looking move, hinting at not just the impending World Cup but possibly the T20 World Cup in 2024. He added that Varma's inclusion would undoubtedly intensify the competition for the No. 4 spot, currently contested by Suryakumar Yadav.
“The great thing about Team India is that it has got a really solid 1-2-3 combination, similar to Australia. When you look at their last four or five months, they've had a really strong engine room. They've got some good problems to solve through the middle-order. If they can fill spots with talented young players like Tilak Varma, it can put pressure on someone like Suryakumar Yadav — I think that's a good strategy; keep everyone honest in the side and performing, so not a bad move,” Hayden explained.
On the topic of India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, Hayden emphasized that while coaches play a significant role, tournaments are ultimately won by players. Mentioning the 'Bazball' strategy and the Ashes 2023 drawn series, Hayden highlighted that innovations don't always guarantee success.
Finally, addressing concerns over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's ODI form, Hayden conveyed his unwavering belief in their prowess. Citing Kohli’s recent century against Australia, he concluded, “Both these players are gearing up for a significant World Cup. I wouldn't be too concerned.”
