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ODI World Cup 2023: Will Suryakumar Yadav secure a spot in India's Playing XI for the high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Pakistan

Suryakumar Yadav can turn out to be the X-factor in such a high-octane clash against Pakistan given his recent performances in ODI.

By Soumya | Oct 14, 2023 | 3 Min Read

India vs Pakistan is by far the biggest rivalry in the cricketing world. Naturally, a lot will depend on the Playing XI of both teams. The selector of both teams will be eager to figure out the permutation and combination ahead of this clash. All focus is on the return of the opener Shubman Gill, who has reportedly recovered from his illness. However, if he gets benched for today’s match then it might be a chance for the batter Suryakumar Yadav in the team. Although Yadav has an average of only 28.30, he brings in a massive strike rate of 108.42 while playing in India. Added to that given the flat surface that is there in Narendra Modi Stadium, Sky’s inclusion will definitely bolster the cumulative total that India has in mind against Pakistan.

Moreover, Surya has already played three matches at the venue for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. In the three matches, he has scored 93 runs with one half-century and a strike rate of 138.81. While the difference in formats surely needs to be considered, his explosive style of batting is something that can prove crucial against Pakistan. The selectors might be tempted to use him as the No. 6 batter after KL Rahul. If India goes ahead with that plan then it will mean a batting lineup extending up to No.8 in the form of Ravindra Jadeja.

Suryakumar Yadav- The X-factor for India

Suryakumar Yadav has already carved out a name for himself in T20Is after delivering impressive performances in the IPL. However, when it comes to the ODI, his place has looked wobbly. But, back-to-back half-centuries against Australia just ahead of the tournament proved to be a major confidence boost for him and against Pakistan on Saturday. Subsequently, he just might turn out to be the X-factor in such a high-octane clash.

At present, there is no guarantee that he will even make the playing XI. In the opening two fixtures, Sky was not in the fray for once. But, in a batting-friendly condition, this might just change. Moreover, with the absence of Shubhman Gill, Ishan Kishan has not been able to step up to the occasion. Likewise, in the middle order, Shreyas Iyer was not able to deliver as well. Both batsmen failed miserably against Australia after playing a rather loose shot against the Aussies.

However, Ishan and Shreyas looked a bit more settled against Afghanistan. But India also knows that facing the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan will provide a significantly harder challenge. In that case, India may opt for five bowlers with Hardik Pandya being the third pace option and include Suryakumar as a specialist batter. In a pitch that is known to produce big scores, an extra batter can end up being a huge factor. Now, it will be interesting to see how the entire combination works. This leaves a question of whether Suryakumar is able to finally make his ODI World Cup debut.