'I do Feel for Suryakumar Yadav': Australia Legend Has Sympathy for Struggling India Star But Sees Him Playing Huge Role in World Cup

After yet another failure, questions are being raised on Indian team management’s backing of Suryakumar Yadav who continues to struggle in ODIs.

On Friday, with India facing a tricky chase against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup clash, Suryakumar struggled to get going before being cleaned up by Shakib Al Hasan. The middle-order batter scored 26 off 34 with the help of three fours before departing as Bangladesh won by six runs.

Asia Cup 2023 Full Schedule | Asia Cup 2023 Complete Results | Asia Cup 2023 Full Coverage

While the match was inconsequential with India already qualified for the final, it presented Suryakumar with yet another opportunity to leave his struggles in the format behind with the ODI World Cup just a few weeks away now.

However, an average of 24.40 after 25 ODI innings is bound to test the patience of the Indian team management.

Australia legend Matthew Hayden though sympathises with the India batter, recalling his own frustrations when he waited years before getting an international recall.

“I really understand the mindset. Because I sat for seven years without getting a game for Australia. You have these moments when you perform incredibly well for your state, and in Suryakumar Yadav’s case, in first-class and IPL cricket, where his strike rate is 170+. When it comes to ODIs, he hasn’t quite found, or decoded, what’s his game going to be,” Hayden said on Star Sports.

Analysing Suryakumar’s innings against Bangladesh as he was bowled after attempting a sweep, Hayden reckoned the batter was trying for ‘get out of the jail’ shots.

“Tonight, he just played ‘get out of the jail’ shots, trying to get those lack of respect runs. Even when Jadeja came to play, he was going bang-bang-bang with Shubman Gill powering away. That takes a lot of confidence internally. You have to be right at the top of your game,” Hayden said.

Suryakumar made the India playing XI after they made as many as five change to for the contest with the likes of Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj being rested.

Despite the latest failure, Hayden feels Surya will have a significant role to play during the world cup.

“When you are fighting so hard to find respect from your country in that one format, the harder you chase it, the farther it seems to get away. So, I do feel for Suryakumar Yadav, who I think has a huge role to play in this World Cup,” he said.