As India geared up for the ICC World Cup with a preparatory series against Australia in Mohali, head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed the inclusion of middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav in the final squad. Responding to this trust and silencing doubters, Suryakumar showcased his brilliance with a commendable half-century in the 1st ODI against Australia.
While Shreyas Iyer had a brief setback in the same match due to an untimely run-out, he made a resounding comeback by slamming a century in the 2nd ODI. This exceptional performance played a crucial role in India's series win (2-1) against Australia, even in the absence of stalwart Virat Kohli. Not to be outdone, Suryakumar delivered a spectacular performance in the subsequent match, hitting 72 runs off just 37 balls. His explosive batting propelled India to a massive score of 399-5 in the 50-over game in Indore.
Reflecting on India's abundance of talent leading into the ODI World Cup, former head coach Ravi Shastri spotlighted Suryakumar. Shastri emphasized his belief in Suryakumar being the potential X-factor for the Indian side in the upcoming ICC event.
"I'll be watching him closely, very very closely. Because if your top order is firing, so you have 6-7-8 players, you will play him or Shreyas Iyer at this moment. But if all the batters are getting runs then that guy becomes the X factor in a big game, he can win you a game. Because at 6-7-8, the damage he can do with Hardik, they can just take the game away from the opposition in the last 6-7 overs. So that X factor you gotta think of, I can imagine that your batting is struggling but it's not the case," Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.
While Suryakumar initially found it challenging to cement his position in India's playing XI during the Asia Cup, Iyer, battling back issues, had only one appearance against Pakistan. Nevertheless, Iyer left a significant mark in the Australia series with a match-winning ton, accumulating an average of 52.00 over the series. As for Suryakumar, he too found his rhythm, amassing an impressive 130 runs across the 3 ODIs against Australia.
"And in Indian conditions, very rarely it will struggle. You know you expect 1-2-3-4 - one hundred. He will always be in my 12. You have to see the conditions. A real flat track - I would think of Surya. Because you expect the other 3-4 to get runs. If it's (conditions are) tough, tricky, or seaming then maybe you don't know. You have 5 proper batters, all five similar, instead of that have one X-factor - could be a left-hander could be a Surya," Shastri added.
With such performances, both players have firmly positioned themselves as integral parts of the Indian lineup, generating significant excitement among fans and analysts as the ICC World Cup approaches.
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