Guyana: With the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 fast approaching, India's T20I star batter opened up about his chances of featuring in the marquee event later this year.
Suryakumar Yadav has mastered the art of batting in T20 cricket with his entertaining style, however, he is yet to make a mark in the fifty-over format of the game. In his 26 ODI outings so far, he has made 511 runs at 24.33, including two half-centuries.
India are currently on a multi-format tour of the West Indies, in which they have won the two-match World Test Championship Test series 1-0 and the three-match ODI series 2-1. Suryakumar featured in all three ODIs, registering scores of 19, 24 and 35, an ICC report said.
The India batter admitted that his ODI record needs improvement and was willing to strive for ODI success amidst T20I dominance, with a home World Cup in sight.
"If I'm being honest with myself, I know my ODI numbers are really bad," Suryakumar said while talking to the media after the third T20I against West Indies.
"There's nothing wrong in accepting it because we all know it. We all talk about honesty; it's important to be honest. But it is also important to get better," he said.
"Both Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid sir have advised me that this (ODI) is a format that you don’t play a lot, you need to practice it. You need to think about what you can do about it. Take some time while batting. If you are batting in the last 10-15 overs, think of what you can do for the team," Suryakumar said.
"We (the team) just want you to walk in, bat for 45-50 balls, that’s what the team management wants. That’s the signal they have given. Now you bat according to your style, and how you want to play in ODIs but we want you to play 45-50 balls, if you are batting in the last 15-18 overs. So that’s in my hands how I convert that responsibility into an opportunity and how I bat according to the team's requirements," he added.
In the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies, India made a comeback in the third match after having lost the first two encounters. Chasing a target of 160, Suryakumar led the way for India with a fiery 44-ball 83 which was studded with 10 fours and four sixes.
Despite having mastered the T20 style of batting, Suryakumar explained the challenges of ODI cricket.
"I think we have played the T20 format so much that it has become a habit," he said. "One-day cricket is a format that we do not play as frequently. However, for me, it seems to be the most challenging format because it requires various batting approaches," he said.
"If a wicket falls early, you have to spend some time at the crease as you would in Test cricket. Then you transition to playing ball-to-ball in the middle overs, and finally, you need to adopt your T20 approach towards the end," Suryakumar said.
"Currently, I am trying to apply the advice given by the team management regarding this format in ODI cricket. I am making an effort to take the time that the team requires and play my natural game towards the end. I am grateful for the trust that these people are showing in me, and I will strive to maintain it," he added.
The forthcoming Men's Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be played in India from October 5 to November 19. India will begin their campaign with a blockbuster clash against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. (UNI)
