Suryakumar Yadav is lucky to be in the squad for Asia Cup 2023: Tom Moody

Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody feels Suryakumar Yadav is lucky to be in the squad for Asia Cup 2023. SKY hasn’t yet grabbed his chances in the ODI format but he has been backed by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.

SKY is yet to take the 50-overs version by storm as he has done in the shortest format. In 26 ODIs, SKY has scored only 511 runs at an average of 24.33. Yadav could only score 78 runs in the recent three-match ODI series against the West Indies at an average of 26.

SKY has shown the skills to turn the match on its head, especially in the T20I format and thus he has been backed by the team management and the selectors for the 50-overs version.

Tom Moody said he would have liked to see a young player like Yashasvi Jaiswal in India’s squad. Jaiswal made an impressive start to his Test career against the West Indies, scoring 266 runs in two Test matches. The left-hander also scored a fine knock of 84 runs in the penultimate T20I against the Windies.

Speaking to Star Sports, Moody said, “The player that I think is lucky to be in that side is Suryakumar Yadav. I know that he’s a player that we all love to watch, but he is yet to really master the 50-over game. I think he’s played over 20 matches now and at a very modest return.”

“And to me, there are better options. I would have much rather seen a younger player like Jaiswal in that side. Or take that position, and play a wrist spinner. You know may be another wrist spinner.”

“He’s a genius in T20 cricket. But the 50-over cricket is a completely different format, and he’s yet to really crack the code for that. You know, I just don’t think he’s gonna do it at the last minute.”

SKY will look to take his chances before the all-important World Cup. India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.

India’s squad for Asia Cup 2023:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.