IND vs AUS: Dravid backs Suryakumar’s ‘quality’, says not a trial for Ashwin

Despite persisting considerations over his spot within the World Cup squad, staff India head coach Rahul Dravid has backed Suryakumar Yadav whereas confirming his place within the enjoying XI for the primary ODI in opposition to Australia in Mohali on Friday.

Having made his ODI debut in mid-2021, Suryakumar has scored solely 537 runs in 25 innings, averaging 24.40 with simply two fifties. While he has established himself as India’s main T20 batter, Suryakumar has did not ship the identical impetus within the middle-order within the 50-over format. In his solitary outing within the Asia Cup, Suryakumar couldn’t arrest an Indian collapse in opposition to Bangladesh and fell trying an expansive stroke on 26.

However, by means of the load of his T20I performances, Suryakumar has earned the religion of the administration to succeed with an extended rope.

“He does not need to worry about the 27th (deadline for the final World Cup squad). Surya is in the World Cup team. We completely back him,” Dravid stated whereas addressing the media on Thursday.

“We back him because he has a certain quality and an ability that we have seen in T20Is. We know about the impact he can make at No. 6. He can change the course of the game. There has been total clarity that we are behind him. Hopefully, he can turn it around in these three games. The first couple certainly,” Dravid added.

Suryakumar is unlikely to discover a spot within the middle-order when regulars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya return for the third ODI in Rajkot. It has additionally been a case of not having room for a specialist batter within the lower-order, with India determined to subject all-round choices.

Dying artwork of part-timers

Dravid stated the dwindling ability of batters who may double up as part-time bowlers has been primarily attributable to rule adjustments on subject restrictions.

“It could be because of the rule change. Suddenly, you have gone from four fielders inside the ring to five fielders. That has drastically changed the ability of part-time bowlers to be able to bowl through the middle phase. A lot of these guys started when there used to be only four fielders in the ring. In that kind of situation, you could use a lot of part-time bowlers. Not only us, a lot of teams did that,” Dravid remarked.

“If you would have noticed, the number of part-time bowlers has gone down in other teams as well. It’s not only in the Indian team. Partly, it’s because of two new balls. It’s becoming more and more difficult for part-time bowlers,” Dravid stated.

Not a trial for Ashwin

The former India captain additionally backed veteran off-spinner R. Ashwin to relish his alternatives throughout a shock ODI return after 20 months.

“Having someone of Ashwin’s experience to come back is always good for us. Ashwin also provides you with the ability to contribute with the bat at No. 8. He is someone that we always thought of in case there were certain injuries. I know he hasn’t played a lot of one-day cricket over the last bit, but someone of his experience can probably deal with that well,” Dravid stated.

Ashwin has solely featured in two ODIs – each in opposition to South Africa in January 2022 – over the past six years. He ended up with only a solitary wicket on that tour earlier than falling out of favour once more. The head coach, nonetheless, didn’t see the call-up as a rehearsal forward of the World Cup.

“I won’t say that it’s a trial for him or anything like that. We know his quality. But it’s an opportunity for him to play games in the format. We just want to give him that opportunity to play two or three games, if required, before the World Cup,” Dravid concluded.