/mazaplay/media/agency_attachments/EqX62rkwonI9tRKyXUEH.png)
Follow Us/mazaplay/media/post_banners/5de2WE0jQShSoiiDW6j9.png)
Gautam Gambhir (Source: Twitter)
Suryakumar Yadav has come under fire for his continued failures in the ODI format despite some serious backing from the management. The middle-order batter has been exceptional in the shorter format of the game, but he has never been able to replicate those heroics in the 50-over format. However, finally, the World No. 1 T20 batter repaid the faith shown in him by Team India head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma in recent times.
The 33-year-old, who registered three golden ducks in a row in the ODI series against Australia earlier this year, recently hit a crucial fifty against the same side. Suryakumar formed a brilliant partnership with KL Rahul to help India to a five-wicket win in the first ODI of the three-match series in Mohali on Friday. His trustworthy knock of 51 comes almost a fortnight before India's World Cup campaign begins.
The Mumbai cricketer has been named in India's 15-man ODI World Cup squad, but his selection has been criticised by many fans on social media due to his below-par performance in the format. Now, he has scored a brilliant half-century to answer his critics, but does this knock guarantee him a place in the starting XI of the premier 50-over tournament?
The big question will then be who will bat at No. 5: Gambhir
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir opined that it would be a "huge gamble" if India wanted to include Surya in the World Cup Playing XI. However, the 2011 World Cup winner said that if SKY is indeed the first-choice player, he should bat at 6 or 7.
“When you go for a World Cup, you generally have a fixed playing XI. You don't chop or change. Remember the 2011 World Cup, we hardly made any changes. Yusuf Pathan played 5-6 matches at the start and then it was Suresh Raina. If Suryakumar Yadav is in your first playing XI then I would want him to bat at 6-7, but the big question will then be who will bat at No. 5. Then Jadeja can bat at No. 5, Hardik at 6 and Suryakumar as finisher where he can bat in the final 15-20 overs, said the cricketer-turned-politician told Star Sports.
"But it will be a huge gamble deciding whether you want Jadeja at No. 5 and Suryakumar, in the form that he is in ODI cricket, at No. 7. This would put a lot of responsibility on the top four,” he added.