A huge question mark has been left hanging over Suryakumar Yadav after his rather spectacular debacle in India's recently concluded three-match ODI series at home against Australia. India lost the series 2-1, their first defeat since March 2018, and SKY, incredibly, was out for golden ducks in all three games.
Suryakumar was out LBW to Mitchell Starc in the first two matches of the series and then was cleaned up by Ashton Agar in the third. Captain Rohit Sharma defended the batter, stating that he had just got three good balls in the series and the potential is always there. Now, fans have found another tweet from Rohit from July 2018 which might give Suryakumar a boost. "Sun will rise again tomorrow," Rohit Sharma tweeted in 2018.
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"He only played three balls in three (games) this series. I don't know how much to look into it. He got three good balls, to be honest. Today, it wasn't that good ball; he should have gone forward. He knows best. He plays spin so well. We have seen that over last couple of years. That's why we held him back and give him that role for the last 15-20 overs where he can play his game, but it's really unfortunate he could only play three balls. That can happen to anyone. But the potential and ability is always there. He is just going through that phase right now," said Rohit after the game.
{{/usCountry}}"He only played three balls in three (games) this series. I don't know how much to look into it. He got three good balls, to be honest. Today, it wasn't that good ball; he should have gone forward. He knows best. He plays spin so well. We have seen that over last couple of years. That's why we held him back and give him that role for the last 15-20 overs where he can play his game, but it's really unfortunate he could only play three balls. That can happen to anyone. But the potential and ability is always there. He is just going through that phase right now," said Rohit after the game.
{{/usCountry}}Suryakumar was out to deliveries that swung back into the right hander in the first two matches from Starc. In the first Starc got him with a length ball that swung in and struck him on his back leg. Australia had not got the decision after which Steve Smith took DRS. Replays showed that the ball would have hit the top of off and SKY had to go. In the second match, it was a fuller delivery that struck and this time the umpire raised his finger. SKY did not take the review and replays showed that he was plumb out.
In the third ODI on Wednesday, SKY came out to bat after former captain Virat Kohli fell to Agar for 54 off 72 balls off the first ball of the 36th over. Agar sent it in short and the ball kept low while skidding through. Suryakumar cleared out his front leg trying to slash it and he was beaten entirely. The ball disturbed the stumps and SKY was left with a wry smile on his face.