Michael Vaughan is not impressed by India’s decision to leave out Suryakumar Yadav from the playing XI of the 1st ODI between England and hosts India.
Michael Vaughan on Omission of Suryakumar Yadav
However, Suryakumar was still left out from the playing XI when skipper Virat Kohli revealed India’s lineup for the 1st ODI at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Tuesday.
Speaking about the team selection, Vaughan spoke at length about India’s decision to not include Suryakumar and Rishabh Pant in the playing XI for the ODI series curtain-raiser at Pune.
ODI debut for @krunalpandya24 👌
International debut for @prasidh43 👍#TeamIndia @Paytm #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Hm9abtwW0g— BCCI (@BCCI) March 23, 2021
“India are still powerful. But I am surprised by the team selection. Rishabh Pant has played pretty much non-stop for a long period of time. So, maybe they gave him a bit of a breather, it’s not a bad thing for him. Suryakumar Yadav is who I would have played,” Vaughan said.
“On the back of his tremendous T20I performances, I would have gone with the ride and played him again.
“I think it’s so important that when a player comes in and sets the lights like he did, you carry on with him. I think he’s such a good player, he can easily adapt to the 50-over game. So, I am surprised India have gone without Suryakumar, but it is still a powerful line-up,” he added.
“Look at that batting line-up, look at that expertise. Big game for Shikhar Dhawan with younger players coming in. There is no Shubman Gill playing.
“A wonderful talent, and maybe he should have been given some time in the middle as well. But whichever Indian side is put up on Indian surface, you know you have to play extremely well to beat them,” he signed off.
Suryakumar Yadav set the stage on fire in the T20Is against England as he smashed 57 runs in 31 balls in his first innings for India. He then contributed 32 runs in 17 balls in the final T20I to help India in keeping the momentum after Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 64 (in 34 balls).
