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'Couldn't Understand What Suryakumar Was Trying': Salman Butt After India's Defeat In Final

image-lp83ux8hSuryakumar Yadav made 18 off 28 balls in World Cup final (Twitter)

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt slammed India's middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav for his debatable approach at the fag end of the innings during the ICC World Cup 2023 final against Australia on Sunday (November 19). 

Walking in at No.7 in a precarious spot with India reeling at 178/5 on a sluggish Ahmedabad pitch, Suryakumar struggled and stuttered along to a disappointing 18 off 28 deliveries facing some high-quality and relentless Aussie bowling.

Left to bat with the weak Indian tail following the departure of top-scorer KL Rahul in the 42nd over, the Mumbaikar, renowned for his incredible blitz in the shortest format, emerged in two minds whether to hog most of the strike or take whatever singles there were run on offer. 

Given the dry pitch offered no pace for his extravagant strokeplay and boundary options, the 33-year-old decided to rotate strike with the tail and fetch whatever runs he could when the traditional voices expected him to smash the bowling by farming the crease, which would've been equally risky given the strength of India's No.8-11. 

Salman Butt Critical Of Suryakumar Yadav 

The knock which sadly ended with Suryakumar attempting a leg-side hoick that saw the ball brush on his gloves and balloon to the hands of the Aussie wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was severely criticised by fans and prominent experts as they questioned his over-faithful attitude towards the lower-order men. 

"I couldn't understand what Suryakumar Yadav was trying to do. He needed to play his shots when he was batting with the tailenders, but instead took singles and went at the non-striker's end," Butt said on his YouTube channel. 

"There was some reverse swing, and Australia had proven fast bowlers. They weren't the kind of bowlers whom Mohammed Shami or Jasprit Bumrah would have been able to hit. Suryakumar Yadav should have taken more responsibility," he added. 

With limited game time behind him on a surface that took most of his strengths and big shots out of the equation, Suryakumar's knock only sharpened the knives on his selection and suitability to 50-over cricket after persistent faith shown by the team management and the selectors.