Team India is gearing up for the upcoming 5-match T20I series against England which begins from Friday in Ahmedabad. With a bunch of top performers, including the likes of KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer, in the squad, the team management is likely to go through a selection conundrum ahead of the series opener.
Meanwhile, former Indian batsman VVS Laxman feels that the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Rahul Tewatia are unlikely to make their international debut in the upcoming T20I rubber. All three of them received their maiden India call-up last month when the BCCI announced a 19-member squad for the series.
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While speaking on Star Sports, Laxman said that the Indian cricket team already has a settled middle-order which hardly requires any tinkering.
“I don't see them getting a chance because you have a settled middle order. I would love to see continuity as far as the No.4 position is concerned and Shreyas Iyer would be my choice as far as batting at No.4,” said Laxman.
“I would love to see Rishabh Pant back in the mix, batting at No.5 and then you have got Hardik Pandya at No.6. So, I don't see Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan or for that matter Tewatia getting a chance but whenever they get a chance, I am sure all of them will perform and play to the best of their abilities,” added Laxman.
{{/usCountry}}“I would love to see Rishabh Pant back in the mix, batting at No.5 and then you have got Hardik Pandya at No.6. So, I don't see Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan or for that matter Tewatia getting a chance but whenever they get a chance, I am sure all of them will perform and play to the best of their abilities,” added Laxman.
{{/usCountry}}Laxman was delighted on the selection of Suryakumar in the Indian squad. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that the Mumbai batsman forced the Indian selectors to pick him by performing consistently over the last few years.
“I am very very pleased for Suryakumar Yadav. Yes, Ishan Kishan and Tewatia also deserve their place. They have done really well in domestic cricket as well in the IPL. But the way Suryakumar Yadav has performed over the last 4-5 years has been nothing less than sensational,” said Laxman.
“The way he has patiently waited for his chance because there is a cliche and especially my coach used to tell me in the early days of my career that if the selectors are not opening the door then you break open the door and that's exactly what Suryakumar Yadav has done and he is a real role model for a lot of youngsters who aspire to play for the country,” he added.
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India’s T20I squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur.