Former India opener Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday has said that Suryakumar Yadav should bat at No. 3 for India in T20Is even after Virat Kohli’s return to the team. However, Kohli has been rested for the three-match T20I series and Yadav helped his side win with a match-winning 62 in only 40 balls against New Zealand in the first T20I in Jaipur.
Suryakumar Yadav also took the charge after a 50-run opening stand. He smashed 3 sixes and 6 boundaries and added a 59-run stand with Rohit to help India win. While speaking to Star Sports after India’s five-wicket win in Jaipur, Gambhir said that Suryakumar Yadav should bat at No. 3 in T20Is as it will help the team to carry forward the momentum after the openers as well.
“He (Suryakumar) has got many options. He plays spin very well. He has got all the shots, he is a 360 player as well. That is what makes him very difficult to bowl at. When Virat Kohli comes back, I still want to see Suryakumar bat at No. 3 and Virat at No. 4,” Gautam Gambhir said.
“That gives India an option to continue with the momentum because Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are very explosive at the top. And Surya at No. 3 could be your best option because he can continue the momentum and Virat can be an anchor at No.4 probably like how Steve Smith has been for Australia. If you lose a couple of early wickets, Virat can manage that middle order,” he further added.
Virat Kohli will have to play the anchor role – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir again shared that India’s middle-order is a bit inexperienced with Rishabh Pant and Venkatesh Iyer and if Virat Kohli bats at No.4 then his experience will be useful as well. However, he wasn’t happy as Suryakumar failed to stay in the middle till the end.
“So once, Virat gets in, I still want to see Surya batting at No. 3 because he will win you many more games while batting at No. 3. If you bat Virat at No. 3, then there is hardly any experience in that middle order with Surya, Rishabh following. So Virat will probably have to play that most important role, play that anchor role and bring the middle-order together,” Gambhir added.
“Very disappointing. Though I really admire him for the way he bats, he really needs to finish off as well. It’s not important how you start, it’s important how you finish. It doesn’t matter if you get a 60 or a 70, it’s important to finish games. That’s what maturity is all about,” Gautam Gambhir concluded.
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