Dravid: 'We've picked our team for the World Cup and Surya is in it'

[vvvslaxman]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/rahul-dravid-on-suryakumar-yadav-weve-picked-our-team-for-the-world-cup-and-surya-is-in-it-1399432

 

 

India strongly back Suryakumar Yadav to bring his game-changing ability to the World Cup despite the slow start to his ODI career. Suryakumar is the No. 1 T20I batter on the ICC rankings, but he hasn't yet found the same gear in ODIs, where his first 25 innings have only brought two fifties and an average of 24.40.

 

Head coach Rahul Dravid has no doubt, however, of the qualities Suryakumar brings to the table, which he feels could make a significant difference for India from No. 6. He said India had no second thoughts about Suryakumar's place in their World Cup 15 - which they will need to finalise by September 27.

 

 

"I don't think he needs to worry about the 27th; we've picked our team for the World Cup and Surya is in it," Dravid said ahead of the first ODI against Australia in Mohali. "We've made that decision and we completely back him because he's got a certain quality and ability that we've seen. Yes, we've seen those qualities at the moment in T20 cricket, but we know the kind of impact a player like him can make batting at six.

 

"He can change the course of a game, so we've completely backed him. We're very clear about that. There's been total clarity on the fact that we're completely behind him and we know hopefully he'll be able to turn it around."

 

Suryakumar is presently not part of India's first-choice top six, but Dravid indicated he will be part of the starting XI against Australia, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya rested for the first two ODIs.

 

"These three games, he is someone who will get all three games, or at least the first couple certainly to be able to again develop and keep growing in his journey as a one-day cricketer, but in terms of selection, no, we've made our decision."

 

 

Dravid was also asked about the decision to rest senior players such as Rohit and Kohli ahead of what could be some "tough games" against Australia before India's World Cup campaign officially kicks off with their first warm-up fixture on September 29.

 

"With people like Virat and Rohit specifically, from our perspective, it's really important that we get them to the first game of the World Cup physically and mentally in the space they want to be in," Dravid explained. "At this level, the amount of cricket that they've played, they know how they need to prepare themselves. A lot of these decisions are made in discussion with them in an effort to try and get… all our players, obviously not only the two of them, but certainly the senior and the more experienced guys kind of have their routines and know what they need to do to get into the first game in the right frame of mind.

 

 

"So a lot of these decisions we discuss with them on how best they would like to prepare in the lead up to big events like the World Cup. Based on those discussions, we come up with some mutual decisions on deciding probably these two games were good games to take off, just to refresh mentally more than anything else, and then come back from [the third ODI in] Rajkot, and then it's going to be a tough couple of months ahead of us."

 

The one other major talking point at the press conference was R Ashwin, who will be auditioning for a spin bowler's berth should the need arise, with Axar Patel nursing a quadriceps strain. Ashwin hasn't played an ODI since January 2022, but Dravid isn't worried; he echoed Rohit's thoughts that an experienced player such as Ashwin doesn't need too much game time to get back into the groove.

 

"Having someone of Ashwin's experience to come back is always good for us," Dravid said. "Also, he's got the ability to be able to contribute with the bat at No. 8. He's someone who we've always thought of where in case there were certain injuries or opportunities opened up, he was always part of our plans. I know he hasn't played a lot of one-day cricket in the last bit, but someone of his experience can deal with that really well."

[vvvslaxman]

So SKY is doing on-the-job training. Sabash.  Looking forward to his game changing ducks.

[putrevus]

I don't mind having SKY in the squad.

 

I need a player with X factor , if he fires, he will win an important match on his own.

 

I don't trust KL Rahul in any important match.Top order is has buckled under pressure many times.

Edited September 21, 2023 by putrevus

[Lone Wolf]

20 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

So SKY is doing on-the-job training. Sabash.  Looking forward to his game changing ducks.

Open to having a X factor player...  Safe players have given us zilch all these years. 

At least we know what sky can do when he gets going.  It's a gamble worth taking. 

[Lord]

Reports are that Dravid wanted Samson but Rohit wanted SKY and Kishan, for obvious reasons.

 

He's just relaying team's decision.

[putrevus]

4 minutes ago, Lord said:

Reports are that Dravid wanted Samson but Rohit wanted SKY and Kishan, for obvious reasons.

 

He's just relaying team's decision.

I will take SKY over Samson anyday.

[vvvslaxman]

7 minutes ago, putrevus said:

I will take SKY over Samson anyday.

 

Why?. Samson can keep as well.

 

[vvvslaxman]

14 minutes ago, Lord said:

Reports are that Dravid wanted Samson but Rohit wanted SKY and Kishan, for obvious reasons.

 

He's just relaying team's decision.

 

Lobby based selection. 

[sandeep]

6 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Why?. Samson can keep as well.

 

I am a big believer in Samson's batting skills, but for the WC we don't need him.  SKY is a much better fit in the middle order than Samson.  much higher ceiling, and similar levels of reliability - which is a shame for someone of Samson's ability. 

 

Post Rohit Sharma, maybe I could envision a top order of Jaiswal-Samson-Gill...Maybe.  

[vvvslaxman]

19 minutes ago, sandeep said:

I am a big believer in Samson's batting skills, but for the WC we don't need him.  SKY is a much better fit in the middle order than Samson.  much higher ceiling, and similar levels of reliability - which is a shame for someone of Samson's ability. 

 

Post Rohit Sharma, maybe I could envision a top order of Jaiswal-Samson-Gill...Maybe.  

 

SKY has one good year of T20. That is pretty much it.  He himself is not sure about how to go about constructing a ODI innings where you get exposed to variety of situations. 5/3, 70/3  290/3. He has never gottent he measure of how to build a ODI innings.  He could fluke a cameo somewhere. But in one dayers especially with longish tail stability is very key.  India needs proper batsmen with extra gears. SKY's construction in T20 is solely based on high risk shots which is not needed most of the time. He looked ridiculous in the game against Bangladesh.

[Nikhil_cric]

Too many suspect performers in the squad - SKY, Jadeja, Ashwin(if Axar is unfit), Shardul, Ishan(in middle order) and Shreyas' fitness issues. 

[vvvslaxman]

4 minutes ago, Nikhil_cric said:

Too many suspect performers in the squad - SKY, Jadeja, Ashwin(if Axar is unfit), Shardul, Ishan(in middle order) and Shreyas' fitness issues. 

 

Well known choking issues of our seniors. That is permanent.

[cricketfan28]

will he play ? is the big question may be against a weak attack.

[Serpico]

They should open with sky and he should just play like a t20 innings 

[Nikhil_cric]

1 hour ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Well known choking issues of our seniors. That is permanent.

 

Hard to call it choking when they are failing against specific types of bowling - inswing/in-seam from Left arm quicks especially and left arm spin on turning tracks. A top 5 of Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Shreyas, KL lines up nicely for such bowlers.

 

Wish we had a classy left hander like Malan opening.  He is the key to that English batting lineup. Whenever Malan has batted deep, England have been in winning positions more often than not. He prevents collapses and allows their lower order to counter attack and set up big scores.

[cowboysfan]

lets support him.we know he has to game to make a difference but for some reason could never replicate it in the ODIs,lets hope he can find form in the few games before CWC starts.

[Frustrated]

4 hours ago, Serpico said:

They should open with sky and he should just play like a t20 innings 

If the opponent has a half decent left arm pacer, SKY won't last long.  Starc got him out for a 1st ball duck in 2 out of 3 games in India earlier this year.  He is a sitting duck (lbw/bowled) against the likes of Boult, Shaheen,Jansen, Mustafizur etc.  

Edited September 22, 2023 by Frustrated

[Suhaan]

7 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Lobby based selection. 

Bambai lobby

[Lone Wolf]

2 hours ago, Frustrated said:

If the opponent has a half decent left arm pacer, SKY won't last long.  Starc got him out for a 1st ball duck in 2 out of 3 games in India earlier this year.  He is a sitting duck (lbw/bowled) against the likes of Boult, Shaheen,Jansen, Mustafizur etc.  

Can work against sides like England...  But we won't be that bold lol

[Frustrated]

18 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Can work against sides like England...  But we won't be that bold lol

Don't think so.    Coz Eng hv the most dangerous left arm pacer in Topley.  7 foot gaint.  No way SKY can survive one over from him.    Nz top order got exposed by Topley in the recent odi series, IIRC.