‘Suryakumar Yadav may not have the consistency, he has the impact’ – Gautam Gambhir
Suryakumar Yadav (Source: Twitter)
Star Sports recently hosted a Selection Day event wherein the show presenter, Jatin Sapru got in a chat with former cricketers like Gautam Gambhir about the Indian cricket team’s Asia Cup squad. The show discussed India’s best playing XI for Asia Cup 2023, among the 17-man squad that the Indian cricket board declared on Monday, 21 August.
On the show, Gambhir emphasised the importance of form and the impact of the player instead of the big brand they carry. Gautam Gambhir talked about how it is important to include the particular player who has scored a significant number of runs and is in good form. Instead of that player who has performed well for the Indian team and is currently out of form.
The former Indian opener talked about how Suryakumar Yadav has had a poor performance in the ODI format but has a strong impact and can make a big difference to the Indian squad if he plays right in not just Asia Cup but the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 as well.
Gautam Gambhir on how the team management should pick the Playing XI
“I will only look at the form, not the name. Because if you want to win the World Cup, only form and impact from the players will help you win. A good thing the selectors have done is picked Suryakumar Yadav for the team. Because Suryakumar Yadav may not have the consistency, he has the impact, and the team management should find the most efficient way to use him,” said Gautam Gambhir on the star sports selection Day program.
“In my opinion, whether it’s KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer, or anybody, we will look at their form after the Asia Cup and which team plays in the Australia series. That series will determine who plays in the World Cup rather than deciding after the series is over that who will play in the World Cup. Because there should be a series before the World Cup where your main squad plays together”, added Gautam Gambhir.
“If the batsman is good regardless of whether he is a right-hander or a left-hander, we should see how he performs in every condition and against each bowler. If Tilak Varma is in good form, then select him. If Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul are in good form, then select them. It’s not a compulsion that you have to keep a left-hander in the squad or that you need to have three left-handers in the lineup. I don’t think we need to even start a debate like this. If we are focusing on left-handers, then what about Yashasvi Jaiswal and other left-handers? But you look at quality, don’t you, not quantity,” concluded Gautam Gambhir.
