Although this is only my opinion, I would want to champion Suryakumar Yadav as a serious T20 batter: Mr. Sanjay Manjrekar

When considering Suryakumar Yadav’s probable selection in India’s ODI team, his remarkable T20I cricket performance cannot be disregarded. Suryakumar has played in 48 T20I games and has brilliantly scored 1675 runs in just 46 innings. Yadav’s batting abilities in the shortest format are unquestionably impressive, with a stellar average of 46.2 and a scorching strike rate of 175.76.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, has a different perspective on Yadav’s selection for the ODI team for the West Indies tour. Manjrekar contends that Suryakumar should only be regarded as a specialist T20I hitter because the T20I format is where he truly excels.

“I personally believe in promoting him as a dedicated T20 batter,” Manjrekar said in an interview with News24 Sports. Suryakumar Yadav has the talent to succeed in that format of cricket as well, in my opinion, if you keep giving him chances in 50-over cricket.

Manjrekar stressed that Suryakumar Yadav is no longer a youthful player and that playing in the longer format of the game can have an impact on his performance in T20Is. “I believe that since he’s not a player who is 20 years old anymore and considering the level at which he has excelled in T20 cricket, introducing complications by playing him in the 50-over format might arise,” the man continued.

There is no denying that Yadav has excelled in T20I cricket. His ODI cricket performances, however, have been rather lackluster; in 23 games, he has scored 433 runs at an average of 24.05.

Manjrekar thought back on Surykumar’s difficulties during the recent ODI series against Australia at home, where he had three golden ducks. In order to make things easier for the Mumbai hitter, the veteran cricketer emphasized the fact that it took him some time to reclaim his T20 form after those dismissals.

Manjrekar asserted that it would not be at all a bad choice if the selectors decided it was important to put the 32-year-old in the ODI lineup. Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Sanju Samson would be his rivals for the middle-order position in the ODI format.

But it won’t be a negative choice or faulty thinking if a selection believes that he needs Suryakumar Yadav’s talent even in 50 overs.

Shreyas and Rahul must demonstrate their fitness as they are recovering from surgeries in order to be selected for the 2017 ODI World Cup. Suryakumar has a chance to demonstrate his abilities and earn a spot on the Indian team for the famous competition as a result of the current circumstances.