Former Indian batter wants Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav in Asia Cup and World Cup squad

India’s former Head coach Ravi Shastri recently talked to Star Sports about who should fill in the prestigious shoes of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina as the number five middle-order batsman of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup 2023. Ravi Shastri believes the recent hot trend, Tilak Varma could be a great fit for the Indian cricket team as a middle-order batsman, who will add an aggressive and attacking approach.  

Supporting his former teammate’s opinion, former attacking batsman Sandeep Patil openly accepted that he seconds Ravi Shastri’s selection for the candidature of Tilak Varma as the middle order batsman at number five. Sandeep Patil also believes Suryakumar Yadav should be a part of India’s playing XI despite his poor performance in the ODIs. 

Sandeep Patil on Tilak Varma batting at Number 5 

“I’m very impressed with Tilak Varma. Very, very impressed. And I want a left-hander. So, if I’m looking for a left-hander in the middle order, like Yuvraj Singh and before that was Suresh Raina at five, I would really look in that direction. Sandy [Sandeep Patil] and MSK [Prasad] have been selectors, and if I was a selector along with my panel, I would be looking at that current form, looking at how he’s getting his runs,” said Ravi Shastri.  

“So, when I look at the way he has got his runs over the last three months, whether it was for Mumbai Indians, for India, whether it was handling pressure, opposition, or different situations of the game, he has ticked all the boxes for someone so young. When it comes to shot selection, when it comes to the range of shots, the ability to be unorthodox, he has everything. So I’ll be looking at him very closely because he is hot at the moment, his mindset, his confidence, he understands situations, which is for me the most important thing,” added Shastri. 

“100 per cent [if India should hand a debut to Tilak Varma?] I will go with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav. Who will be in the playing XI, can be decided after looking at the balance and the opposition. But Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav will both be in my team,” said Sandeep Patil.