‘If you push him down, it will hurt his confidence’ – Ajay Jadeja backs struggling Suryakumar Yadav ahead of 3rd ODI against Australia

Suryakumar Yadav and Ajay Jadeja. (Photo Source: Twitter)

After losing the second game in Visakhapatnam by 10 wickets, India now prepare for the third ODI against Australia on March 22. An embarrassing defeat has led to fans and former cricketers questioning the management over the squad selection, and Suryakumar Yadav is among the players facing heat for his poor performances in the first two ODIs.

Suryakumar’s back-to-back golden ducks in the first two ODIs against Australia have attracted a lot of criticism towards the player’s position in the ODI squad. He was dismissed by Mitchell Starc in both ODIs on leg before wicket (lbw) dismissals, just when India needed some stability from the middle order batter.

With Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant missing out due to injuries, Suryakumar remains the management’s first choice for the No. 4 position. Many are suggesting Suryakumar’s removal from the third game or sending KL Rahul ahead in the pecking order. But former cricketer Ajay Jadeja feels that Rahul will play at no. 4 only if India lose early wickets in the upcoming game.

“If an early wicket goes down, you may see a batting promotion but it won’t be Axar Patel. It is easy for us to say, but the man running the show has to handle a lot – look after the players and take in certain pressures. At max, we will see one change. If India go 20/2 again, I have no doubt that the management and the captain, KL Rahul will come at 4 and Suryakumar Yadav at 5. No doubt Axar Patel has been playing well – he is probably batting the best – but sending him ahead of Hardik Pandya? Don’t think that is going to happen,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz.

Jadeja added that dropping or pushing Suryakumar down the order will further hamper the latter’s confidence. The former cricketer suggested that Rahul’s recent exclusion from the last two Test against Australia will give him more chances in ODIs and said that wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul will be sent ahead of Suryakumar if the situation arises.

“For many years, there have been batters playing ahead and that will continue. A batter who has gotten 2 ducks, if you push him down, it will hurt his confidence. But like I said, if an early wicket falls, you will see KL Rahul ahead because earlier when he wasn’t in form, he was dropped from the Test playing XI, and now that he has, he will get a chance,” Jadeja added.

With the series leveled on 1-1, India host the Australian side in the third and last ODI at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, March 22.