Asia Cup 2023: "Suryakumar Yadav Has The X Factor And The Selectors Know What They Are Doing" - Ravichandran Ashwin

Team India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav can be an X-factor for his team in the much-awaited ODI World Cup 2023. Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted Surya Kumar Yadav’s impressive performances in the shorter format of the game.

Suryakumar Yadav failed to impress with his batting in ODI cricket despite having an extraordinary record in T20I cricket. The right-handed batter scored 511 runs in 26 matches with a dismal average of 24.33. He hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 20 innings in the 50-over format.

Suryakumar Yadav Has The X Factor – Ravichandran Ashwin

In a video on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin urged fans to see Suryakumar Yadav as an Indian player beyond his IPL franchise.

“Imagine Surya batting alongside Virat Kohli and India needing 140 from 20 overs. Even if you aren’t a Mumbai Indians supporter, you will want him to do well right? He has the X factor and the selectors know what they are doing,” Ashwin said.

“Surya is our match-winner in the T20 format. But when it comes to ODIs, some say ‘average player’, ‘how many chances?’. It all goes down to IPL warfare. He should be looked at as an Indian player and fans need to have that acceptance,” he added.

The 32-year-old scored 78 runs at an average of 26 in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The right-handed batter registered three golden ducks in the ODI series against Australia earlier this year.

Team Is Backing Surya To Come Good – Ravichandran Ashwin

“The team is backing Surya to come good in ODIs because of his X-factor. When you look at how teams have won World Cups, MS Dhoni or any other captain have backed the players that they believe will come good. It shouldn’t be quantified into the number of chances given.”