Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody has stated he will pick all six Suryakumar Yadavs if he has the option of picking them. SKY has been in form of his life as he is batting at the top of his game and he has been consistently delivering the goods for the team.
Yadav scored a scintillating knock of 61 runs off just 25 balls against Zimbabwe at the SCG, Sydney on Sunday to help India post a par score of 186 runs on the board after Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first. The right-hander was able to hit the ground running as he took the Zimbabwean bowlers to the cleaners.
Yadav has amassed 225 runs in five matches at an average of 75 and a strike rate of 193.97 in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The Mumbai batter has scored three fifties in the T20I showpiece and he has played an instrumental part in the success of the team.
The 32-year-old played some extraordinary shots in his knock against Zimbabwe and did a great job for the team.
Tom Moody said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, “If you had six Suryakumars, I’d have all six of them. That’s always the case when you have got a player of that caliber and someone who is in that red-hot form. He can bat anywhere. No question about that. But, he’s feeling very comfortable in that position (No. 4). I would keep him there.”
On the other hand, Rishabh Pant got his chance in the final XI in place of Dinesh Karthik against Zimbabwe. However, the left-hander could only manage three runs and thus could not grab his chance. But Moody wants Pant to retain his place in the team against England in the semifinal.
“I’d be keeping him (Pant) in the side. He offers more against England. I like the idea of having a left-hander against Adil Rashid. He is a big match player and this is a big match. I’ve seen this guy in Australia in a different format do things that leave you walking away with your mouth wide open.”
Pant can provide a left-handed option for the team in the middle order and Moody feels the Delhi player can take the attack against Adil Rashid.
“In Adelaide, given the square boundaries are as small as they can be in Australia, with Adil Rashid there, Rishabh Pant is the best option to take him down.”
India will take on England in the semifinal on Thursday at Adelaide Oval.
