Image Source- AFP
For the Indian cricket team during the recently
finished ODI series against Australia, Suryakumar Yadav was in fantastic form.
For the powerful hitter, whose selection for the Cricket World Cup 2023 had
been met with considerable scepticism from both experts and fans, it was a
relief. He scored two half-centuries to help his team win the series, but he
was once again at his explosive best. Even if his form has recently improved,
famous Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar was unimpressed with his performance in the
ODI format and had a direct opinion regarding his selection for the World Cup
playing XI.
“Suryakumar hasn’t done anything big yet in ODI
cricket. He only bats in those final 15-20 overs where he utilises his T20
abilities which undoubtedly is important as well. But Hardik, Ishan and Rahul
can all do that same job as well. So Iyer is confirmed for No. 4. Suryakumar
will have to wait and if he does get a chance at No. 4 he has to score a big
hundred and show that he can also score a ton as well.”
In their 15-person roster for the 2018 Cricket World
Cup, India has understandably selected experienced off-spinner Ravichandran
Ashwin to replace injured spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel.
The 37-year-old Ashwin, who claimed four wickets in
the two ODIs of the just finished series against Australia, was chosen by the
Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee since Axar tore his quadriceps and is not
anticipated to recover anytime soon.
“Axar Patel has failed to recover in time for the
World Cup after sustaining a left quadriceps strain during India’s Asia Cup
Super Four encounter against Bangladesh. The spin-bowling all-rounder missed
the final of the Asia Cup as a result,” ICC stated in a media release.