'Suryakumar Yadav Cannot Fit in There, Even if There is a Slot': Virender Sehwag on India's Playing XI in World Cup

Legendary India opener Virender Sehwag feels that it will be difficult for Suryakumar Yadav to make a place in India’s XI in the ODI World Cup as the middle-order looks packed at the moment. Suryakumar scored a couple of centuries against Australia in the recently concluded ODI series. He finally found the template to play the 50-over format with a sensible half-century in the first ODI and a quickfire 37-ball 71-run knock in Indore.

The return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer has made things tricky for Suryakumar to retain his place in the XI as the duo has also performed on their comeback.

Sehwag discussed India’s middle order and suggested that it would be tough for Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar to make a place in the XI for the WC matches.

“At No. 6 and 7 KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won’t be there at either of those positions. There is No. 5 though. But if Hardik Pandya is your sixth bowler then Rahul will bat at No. 5, and Hardik at No. 6, then comes the bowlers. We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays at No. 4 then it will be Iyer, Rahul and Hardik at No. 4, 5 and 6 respectively,” Sehwag said during an interaction on Cricbuzz.

Suryakumar has played 30 ODIs thus far and scored 667 runs at an underwhelming average of 27.79. Meanwhile, KL Rahul scored a ton on his comeback match against Pakistan in Asia Cup, while Shreyas slammed a solid ton in the second ODI against Australia.

It is highly unlikely for India to put Hardik Pandya out of the XI as he provides the ideal balance to the side being the 6th bowler.

Sehwag asserted that Ishan Kishan is ahead of Suryakumar in the race to get a place in the XI as he is a left-hander.

“Now it depends on how India look at this combination, whether they feel Hardik will certainly bowl 10 overs because that will give India an extra bowler. So then Suryakumar cannot fit in there and even if there is a slot, then Ishan should be picked ahead because he is a left-hander,” he added.