India’s 360 batter Suryakumar Yadav has been going through a lean patch in the 50-over format of the game and as a result, he has been a subject of constant discussion among both cricket pundits and fans. Despite the fact that Surya only scored two fifties in 25 innings and some glaring dismissals in the 2023 Asia Cup, he found a place in the World Cup squad and India’s head coach Rahul Dravid said that the management will continue to support Surya. On the other hand, Surya's T20I numbers are impressive as he collected 1841 runs in a total of 53 matches he played.
"We completely back Suryakumar Yadav. We believe he will do well in ODI Cricket and turn things around in ODIs, and will be getting the opportunity in the first two ODIs against Australia," Dravid said.
"He can change the course of a game, so we've completely backed him. We've been pretty clear about that. There's been total clarity on the fact that we're completely behind him."
“But in terms of selection, I think we've made our decision," Dravid confirmed.
The Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer’s below-average fitness will be put to the test while Surya will look to make the most out of the three-match ODI series against Kangaroos. This series will also serve as the final dress rehearsal before the World Cup which is slated to take place next month. Notably, the last time India faced Australia in a 50-over format back in March, Suryakumar was sent to the pavilion on the very first ball in each of the three matches.
Since the management decided to give rest to the senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya, it will be Dravid’s final opportunity to test his bench strength ahead of the high-octane event. The Indian team will start their World Cup campaign against 5-time champions Australia in Chennai on October 8.