'Surya Should be Selected Ahead Of Samson..,' Harbhajan Singh On India's World Cup 2023 Squad
Suryakumar Yadav has been picked up in the upcoming World Cup squad for Team India (Twitter)
In a recent press conference organised by Star Sports, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh voiced his support for the selection of Suryakumar Yadav over Sanju Samson in India's ODI World Cup squad.
Samson was not included in the middle-order, with Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav getting the nod ahead of him. During the squad selection press conference in Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar also expressed their confidence in Yadav's role within the lineup.
Harbhajan Singh emphasized that Suryakumar Yadav is India's most well-rounded player and has the potential to significantly impact the game by playing just 30 deliveries. He asserted:
"Surya should be selected ahead of Sanju Samson. Surya is a complete player. Sanju does not possess the middle-over game like Surya does at the moment."
Harbhajan pointed out that Samson tends to play a riskier brand of cricket compared to Suryakumar Yadav. He praised Yadav's exceptional ability to find gaps in the field, a skill that sets him apart in Indian cricket. Harbhajan stated:
"Samson plays a riskier style of cricket than Surya. When batting from the 35th over onwards, you need a game plan that allows you to locate gaps in the field, and no one does it better than Surya. If it were up to me, I would play Surya in every game. He only needs 30 balls to change the game."
Despite Suryakumar Yadav's relatively modest performance in ODI cricket, with 26 matches yielding 511 runs at an average of 24.33, India has shown confidence in him. Yadav himself acknowledged the challenges he faces in cracking the ODI format during India's recent series against West Indies.
"Many people are wondering why I am doing well in T20s but struggling in the 50-over format. However, I am continuously working on my skills because, in my view, this format is the most demanding. It requires adapting to various phases of the game, starting with stability and composure, followed by effective strike rotation, and ultimately transitioning into a T20 style of play."
India is currently playing Asia Cup 2023 where Suryakumar Yadav is yet to play a game but with his ability to change the complexion of game with his 360-degree antics, he might play a big role in ODI cricket going forward.
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