'Suryakumar Yadav Name Should be First One to be Written Down': Veteran Spinner Wants SKY to Play Every Match in WC

Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh suggested that India should include Suryakumar Yadav in the playing XI for every match in the upcoming ODI World Cup. Suryakumar seems to have adjusted to the 50-over format with back-to-back half-centuries against Australia.

The flamboyant batter was under the scanners before the Australia ODIs but he managed to silence his critics with his sensational batting. He played with a sense of responsibility in the series opener and scored 50 runs off 49 balls. The 33-year-old owned the stage in the second ODI with an unbeaten 72-run knock off 37 balls which was laced with 6 fours and as many sixes.

Harbhajan suggested that Suryakumar’s name should be written first on the paper while finalising the XI for the World Cup.

“Suryakumar Yadav should play every match. In whose place, I don’t know. But his name should be the first one to be written down. After that, the other players should be selected,” said Harbhajan on his YouTube Channel.

Harbhajan heaped praise on Suryakumar and said that he is one player who can turn the match on his own with his astonishing strike rate.

“He is a player who can win you games and completely change the complexion of a match. When he performs, he will turn the match into a one-sided one. There is no better player who can bat a better strike rate,” Harbhajan added.

Surya’s recent form has made things a bit tricky for India in terms of finalising their final combination for playing XI. Surya has to fight for his spot with Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan who are also in decent form.

The veteran spinner further said that Suryakumar Yadav should play at number 5 where he can maximise his potential as Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja can be the finisher.

“Among finishers, we have Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, but I feel Suryakumar Yadav should play at No. 5. He should play every World Cup match. No team has a better player than him,” said Harbhajan.

Surya has been picked in the preliminary squad for the World Cup and is expected to retain his place in the final 15.