“Suryakumar Yadav is 1000 times better than Shreyas Iyer” – Basit Ali after India’s ODI series loss to Sri Lanka

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali reckons Suryakumar Yadav is 1000 times better than Shreyas Iyer. SKY led India to a 3-0 series win against Sri Lanka but the visitors suffered a 2-0 loss in the ODI series. Yadav scored 92 runs in the three matches to lead from the front and was awarded Player of the Series.

However, SKY was not picked in the ODI squad for Sri Lanka ODIs. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer could only manage 38 runs in three ODIs at an average of 12.67 and failed to deliver against Sri Lanka while batting in the middle order.

Meanwhile, Iyer has an impressive ODI record as he has scored 2421 runs in 62 ODIs at an average of 47.47 whereas Suryakumar Yadav has failed to grab his opportunities in the 50-over format, scoring 773 runs in 37 ODIs at 25.77.

Basit Ali said on his YouTube Channel, “Shreyas Iyer has an average of over 40. However, Suryakumar Yadav is 1000 times better than Shreyas Iyer. You needed someone who could play the sweep and reverse sweep. Suryakumar and Jaiswal would have tackled these spinners very easily.”

On the other hand, Basit Ali tipped Riyan Parag to be a superstar. On debut, Parag returned with figures of 3-54 as he accounted for top-scorer Avishka Fernando, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, and in-form Dunith Wellalage in the third ODI.

“When Riyan Parag received his ODI cap from Virat Kohli, my heart said that this guy is going to be a superstar. However, he had to bat out of position. When you pick somebody, you must give him a proper chance. His development will be faster if he gets to play in tough situations. If I was part of the Indian team management, I would have sent him at No. 4.”

India will next host Bangladesh for two Test matches and three T20Is.