IND vs WI: "He Is A Talent And We Want To Give Him As Many Opportunities As We Can" - Rahul Dravid Backs Suryakumar Yadav

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid expressed support for middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav following his underwhelming performances in the ODI format. Rahul Dravid stated that Suryakumar Yadav is still learning ODI cricket considering his limited experience in the 50-over format.

Suryakumar Yadav was included in the India ODI squad for the three-match series against the Windies despite having three golden ducks against Australia at home earlier this year. The right-handed batter has failed to make an impact, scoring 19 runs and 24 runs, respectively.

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Suryakumar Yadav Has Some Very Good Performances – Rahul Dravid

Speaking after India’s six-wicket loss in Barbados, Rahul Dravid opened up about Suryakumar Yadav‘s struggles with the bat in ODI matches.

“Surya is a really good player, there is no doubt about that. He has shown that. Especially in T20 cricket, in domestic cricket, in white-ball cricket. He has some very good performances. He would be the first one to admit that his ODI numbers haven’t been up to the standards or the standards that he has set in T20.

He’s also probably learning ODIs. He has played a lot of competitive T20 cricket through the IPL before he made his debut for India. In One-dayers he hasn’t played as much competitive cricket, because there is no IPL for one-dayers,” Dravid said.

Suryakumar made his ODI debut in July 2021 and represented the national team in 25 matches. The 32-year-old scored 476 runs at a dismal average of 23.80. He failed to register a half-century in his last 17 innings in the 50-over format.

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Rahul Dravid went on to say that the team management will provide more opportunities to Suryakumar Yadav, and it will be up to the batter to capitalize on those chances.

“He’s also learning about his game, and learning to bat in the middle overs. He is a talent and we want to give him as many opportunities as we can. It is really up to him now to take those opportunities and use those opportunities. In the kind of setup we are, we give people as many chances as we possibly can,” he added.

The Men in Blue were bowled out for 181 runs in the second ODI at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, July 29. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were rested to test the young players. The third and final match will be played in Trinidad on August 1.

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