Management's decision to leave out middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav from the playing XI for third T20I versus England has not gone down well with former India batsman Gautam Gambhir. The 39-year-old has expressed surprise and sympathised with Suryakumar Yadav, who did not get a chance to bat in his debut match which India won by 7 wickets on Sunday.
Suryakumar Yadav failed to make cut for the 3rd T20I against England in Ahmedabad on Tuesday as vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who was rested for the starting two matches of the 5-match series.
Gambhir asserted that he would be hurt if he was Suryakumar Yadav before slamming India's T20 World Cup preparation process.
"It amazes me, seven months before the World Cup he starts preparing for World Cup and probably after the World Cup he will start preparing for the next World Cup. It really doesn't matter, the kind of form you are in matters. Imagine if there is an injury issue, what have you seen of Suryakumar Yadav, what have you seen of Suryakumar Yadav in international cricket. I hope nobody gets injured but if there is an injury case and somebody needs to bat at number 4 and number 5. For example there has to be a replacement for Shreyas Iyer, who are you gonna go for.
"So at least look at someone whom you have got into the setup. Probably give him that 'opportunity in three or four games and see where he stands. If he delivers, you have got a backup for someone already batting at number four. If you get someone play him in that series and see what he is giving in the future. We keep talking about preparations but this is just no preparation for the World Cup. It's just about looking at the same players what you have seen for so many years," Gautam Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo.
Look at what has happened to Manish Pandey
Further, the former opener said that Suryakumar was already 30-year-old, an age in Indian cricket when players "start feeling insecure". He pointed out that nobody even talks about Manish Pandey and Sanju Samson.
"It would hurt me if I was Suryakumar Yadav, if I was in his position, what I am not 21-22, I know I am 30. We know what happens in Indian cricket, once you turn 30, the insecurity starts creeping in. Look at what has happened to Manish Pandey, no one even talks about him, Look at Sanju Samson, no one probably ask the question where is Sanju Samson. You will ask Suryakumar Yadav, you will give him couple of games and suddenly if he doesn't perform you will say 'oh we are looking at another youngster'.
"Someone does well in the IPL you will start talking about him. more. That's unfortunate, if you made a debut you got to give him 3 or 4 games. Ishan Kishan scored a brilliant fifty while opening and now he has been pushed to 3. This is not backing," he concluded.
In the third T20I, India after being asked to bat first, lost 3 wickets for just 24 runs.
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