Last Update on: September 16th, 2023 at 11:03 am
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has come out in support of Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav after his performance against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2023. Matthew Hayden emphasized that Suryakumar Yadav needs to analyze his game in ODI cricket.
Suryakumar Yadav scored 26 runs off 34 balls during India’s Super Four clash against Bangladesh in Colombo on Friday, September 15. The right-handed batter had the opportunity to showcase his batting abilities but failed to convert his start into a big score.
I Sat For Seven Years Without Getting A Game – Matthew Hayden
In the post-match show on Star Sports, Matthew Hayden recalled his struggles as a cricketer, mentioning that he spent seven years without playing for Australia.
“I really understand the mindset. Because I sat for seven years without getting a game for Australia. You have these moments when you perform incredibly well for your state, and in Suryakumar Yadav’s case, in first-class and IPL cricket, where his strike rate is 170+. When it comes to ODIs, he hasn’t quite found, or decoded, what’s his game going to be,” Hayden told Star Sports.
Suryakumar came to the crease when the team’s score was 94/4. He added a 45-run partnership with opener Shubman Gill for the fifth wicket. SKY attempted to play more sweep shots, which cost him as he was bowled off Shakib Al Hasan’s bowling.
Surakumar Yadav Just played ‘Get Out Of The Jail’ Shots – Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden emphasized that Suryakumar Yadav needs to change his mindset, suggesting that he is trying to play with an overly cautious approach.
“Tonight, he just played ‘get out of the jail’ shots, trying to get those lack of respect runs. Even when Jadeja came to play, he was going bang-bang-bang with Shubman Gill powering away. That takes a lot of confidence internally,” he further stated.
“You have to be right at the top of your game. When you are fighting so hard to find respect from your country in that one format, the harder you chase it, the farther it seems to get away. So, I do feel for Suryakumar Yadav, who I think has a huge role to play in this World Cup.”
The 33-year-old has scored 537 runs in 27 ODIs with a dismal average of 24.41 and a strike rate of 99.81. He hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 20 ODI matches. However, he has secured his place in India’s provisional squad for the ODI World Cup 2023.