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Format over form: The strange case of resting Suryakumar Yadav
Regardless of the balance of the eleven, isn’t there a strong case for arguing that the right-hander should be one of the first names on the team sheet?
Rohit Sharma had dropped a hint on Monday. Still, it was startling that India went into the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati without Suryakumar Yadav in the line-up. He is India’s best batter on current form in limited-overs cricket, never mind the distinction that Sharma tried to draw between T20Is and ODIs on match eve.
In response to a query on the middle-order on Monday, the India skipper had said: “It is a great headache to have rather than having no headache. We will look at who has done well for us in ODI cricket and in what situations they have done well. The problem happens when you start comparing different formats. Those guys who have performed in ODIs will get a run, as simple as that. Form is important, but the formats are also important.”
Sharma’s pointed reference to ODI numbers seemed to be a justification for backing Shreyas Iyer over Yadav in the playing eleven on Tuesday. Yes, Yadav is yet to sparkle in ODIs like he has done in T20Is: 384 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32 and strike rate of 100.52. Iyer, on the other hand, had 1537 runs in 39 ODIs at 48.03 and strike rate of 96 before Tuesday.
But the bigger debate perhaps should be around including KL Rahul at the cost of benching an in-form Yadav. In 2022, Rahul’s ODI numbers simply didn’t pass muster – 251 runs in 10 matches at an average of 27.88 with a highest score of 73. His strike rate, too, has been down at 80.19. Rahul’s poor run of form has extended across formats, yet he continues to find favour when perhaps going back to domestic cricket and rediscovering his confidence may be the way to go.
Once India decided to omit Ishan Kishan – a double centurion in his last ODI outing – India had to have Rahul in the mix given he’s the only other wicketkeeper available. Rahul scored 39 off 29 balls on Tuesday, clearly not enough runs to prop up his recent numbers.
Regardless of the balance of the eleven, isn’t there a strong case for arguing that Yadav should be one of the first names on the team sheet? The supposed difference between T20I and ODI form that Sharma tried to highlight is also revealing of India’s outlook. When teams such as England – the leaders in white-ball cricket – are viewing the 50-over format as a longer version of T20s, India face the risk of being caught in a time warp if they don’t back a batter of Yadav’s calibre.
The Sri Lankan bowlers must have heaved the biggest sigh of relief once they found out that they did not have to deal with Suryakumar’s 360-degree range on a belter of a pitch. In the third T20I in Rajkot on Saturday, Yadav had delivered the knockout punch with an enterprising 112* off 51 balls that simply took your breath away. With just 14 bilateral ODIs and the Asia Cup remaining for India before the World Cup now, does Yadav’s middling ODI record so far mean he’s not going to get a chance to put it right?
If yes, India would be making the mistake of going into the 50-over World Cup with an outright match-winner warming the bench. It wouldn't be the first selection blunder that they have committed at a recent major event either. That’s perhaps why they haven’t won an ICC event for a decade.
