The decision to open with Suryakumar Yadav did not go down well with the game’s experts and veterans as skipper Rohit Sharma was heavily criticized for his experimentation. Suryakumar became the seventh batsman to open for India in the T20I format in 2022, scoring only 35 runs in 21 balls in two innings. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also did not support Rohit’s decision to experiment with Suryakumar, who acknowledged his certainty for the T20 World Cup squad in the middle-order position, and issued a stern to the captain.
India have done a lot of experiments in the T20I side in 2022 to find the right 15 for the World Cup. And the opening slot, which was destined to belong to the least, became one of the most used slots. Ishan Kishan has tried seven batsmen, including Rohit, in 2022 with the most performances and the most runs. And despite his presence in the white-ball squads in all series after IPL 2022, India have continued to see the different options.
In the West Indies series, India opened with Suryakumar in the first two matches, while the batsman established himself as a strong middle-order substitute. And Shastri has been vehemently against the move, explaining that while Suryakumar Yadav is certain to bat at No. 4 in the World Cup, India should have looked at other options like Rishabh Pant, who was actually seen as the opening batsman in the England series.
“There is a certainty in Suryakumar’s side. Bat at the number he will bat at in the World Cup. And because if Rohit is opening the batting, he will open when KL Rahul comes back. If you want to give an opportunity to someone else, give it to someone you want to see. A man who is sure, if you have decided where he is going to bat in the World Cup, let him bat there. Don’t move around,” Shastri said on fan code.
“Let him go in different conditions, maybe two wickets early or have to bat 5 or six overs, but let him bat where he should bat, still be flexible when needed. Suryakumar is in the form of his life in that middle-order position and he knows how to bat there, unlike many other players he bats for long hours at the number that many can’t and his strike rate is excellent. Rishabh Pant can be given a chance at the top.