Suryakumar Yadav Should Bat At No.7 If He Plays In ODIs - Gautam Gambhir; Wants Team Management To Create Scenario Like T20Is For Batter

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir talked about the possibility of playing Suryakumar Yadav at No.7 in the ODIs. He believes that the batter should bat at that position and urged team management to push Ravindra Jadeja at No.5 so that a T20I-like scenario is created for Yadav.

The batting position of Suryakumar Yadav in the ODIs has been one of the major talking points for the Indian team. For some reason, the batter hasn’t played as freely as T20Is in the 50-over format and has been getting out early, which even raised questions about his place in the team.

Suryakumar Yadav played a magnificent innings in the recently concluded first ODI against Australia but the innings wasn’t any near to how he plays in T20Is. He took his time and played proper cricket shots, not trying any fancy, with which he’s extremely successful in the shortest format of the game.

Suryakumar Yadav scored a blistering half-century in a tricky position and won his team the match. He scored 50 runs and him scoring runs in ODIs will be one of the biggest positives for Team India going into the ICC World Cup 2023.

Gautam Gambhir highlighted the importance of having a fixed XI going into the World Cup. He said that if Suryakumar Yadav is in India’s playing 11 then they should play him at No.7.

While speaking to Star Sports, he explained: “When you go into the World Cup, you have a fixed XI and you don’t do a lot of chopping and changes. During the 2011 World Cup, there was hardly any change throughout the tournament. I remember Yusuf Pathan started the tournament and then Suresh Raina was there after 4-5 changes.

“If Suryakumar Yadav is in your first playing XI then I want him to see him bat No.6 or 7. But then the biggest question is who will bat at No.5. Then you have to play Ravindra Jadeja at No.5 like you play Hardik Pandya at 6.”

You can play Suryakumar Yadav as a finisher – Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir further went on to explain that if team management wants to play Suryakumar Yadav at No.7 then they need to push Ravindra Jadeja at 5 but it’ll be a big gamble.

He explained: “You can play Suryakumar Yadav as a finisher then so that he can play the last 15-20 overs. But it’ll be a big gamble as who you will play Ravindra Jadeja at No.5 or Suryakumar Yadav at 7 considering the kind of form he’s in ODIs. This will add more responsibility top four batters.

“But if you play Suryakumar Yadav, play him at 6 or 7 and not at 5. Because the performance he has put in T20Is, try to create the scenario closest to that so that he can win you games.”

Suryakumar Yadav is likely to play the remaining two games in the series against Australia as well. It’ll give a clear picture as to how management wants to use him. The second game between the two teams will be played on Sunday (24th September).