IND vs AUS 2023: Really unfortunate that he could only play three balls – Rohit Sharma on Suryakumar Yadav

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma believes it unfortunate that Suryakumar Yadav registered golden ducks in all three matches of the ODI series against Australia. SKY, who has been performing consistently in the T20I format, looked at sea in all three matches against the visitors.

Yadav was plumbed in front of the wickets by Mitchell Starc in the first two matches from over the wicket angle when the left-arm pacer got the ball to move back into him. Subsequently, Yadav was once again dismissed without troubling the scorers when Ashton Agar bowled him with an arm ball.

Thus, Yadav bagged an unwanted record of becoming the first player to register three golden ducks in the three-match bilateral ODI series.

Rohit Sharma said in the post-match press conference, “He played only three balls in the series. I don’t know how much you can look into it. He got three good balls. Today, (Wednesday) I didn’t think it was that great a ball. He just chose the wrong shot. He should have, maybe, come forward. He knows best.

“He plays spin so well, which is why we wanted to hold him back and give him that role of last 15-20 overs. But it’s really unfortunate that he could only play three balls in the series. That can happen to anyone. The potential, and the quality is always there. He’s just going through that phase right now.”

Meanwhile, India promoted Axar Patel to number five while chasing 270 runs but the move didn’t pay off as the all-rounder was run out after a mix-up with Virat Kohli. Rohit added he didn’t want right-handers to get stuck at one end and thus promoted Patel in the batting order.

“When KL (Rahul) and Virat (Kohli) were batting, they (Australia) were operating a leggie and a left-arm spinner. Surya was slotted to go in at five. But we thought the ball is taking some turn, and we didn’t want our right-handers to get stuck, which is why we wanted a left-hander.

“Axar, being in the form that he is, we wanted to ask him to go in and bat the way he does and take the spinners on. Then Hardik is obviously the best player at No. 6. We wanted to keep him there and see between Surya and Jadeja, who we can ask to go before.”

India was skittled out for 248 runs and lost by 21 runs.