Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has picked Tilak Varma ahead of Suryakumar Yadav in his ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 squad. While SKY is yet to grab his opportunity in the ODI format, Varma hasn’t even made his ODI debut.
In 26 ODIs, SKY has scored only 511 runs at an average of 24.33. On the other hand, Varma had impressed on the West Indies tour, scoring 173 runs in the five T20I matches. As a result, he was added to India’s 17-man squad for the Asia Cup by Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.
Furthermore, Varma has scored 1236 runs in 25 List A matches at an impressive average of 56.18 with the help of five centuries and as many fifties while playing for Hyderabad. Varma also provides a left-handed option for the Indian team in the middle order.
While speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Wasim Jaffer said, “It’s a tough choice between Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav. I will pick Tilak Varma, even though he hasn’t played ODI cricket at all. But looking at how he bats and plays his cricket, he is more suited to 50-over cricket.”
“Suryakumar Yadav does show a lot of potential and promise, but he hasn’t yet cracked the code of ODI cricket, and he has got a lot of opportunities,” he added.
On the other hand, SKY recently admitted that the 50-overs format is the most challenging version of the game and he is looking forward to doing well. SKY was not picked in India’s playing XI for the high-pressure match against Pakistan as Shreyas Iyer made a return to the team.
SKY had told Star Sports before the start of the Asia Cup, “I will try to do well in the role that I am given. This is one format in which I am really looking forward to doing well. Everyone keeps saying that I am doing great in T20, and this is also white-ball cricket, so why am I not able to crack the code here? But I have been practicing.”
“I feel this is the most challenging format where you need to play like all three formats, depending on the situation. I am working on that and also have been talking a lot to Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. Hopefully, I will crack the code with this tournament,” he added.
India will next face Nepal at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Monday.
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