legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar Suryakumar Yadav seems to have the skills to play Test cricket and all the abilities to walk into a team with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. The Indian team management is facing a selection dilemma with some key players not available due to injury.
Suryakumar Yadav is in the race to make his Test debut from the first Test in Nagpur India Tough calls will have to be made to pick Rohit Sharma’s opening partner and No.5 batsman.
Read this also | India vs Australia, 1st Test: Spin on everybody’s mind in Jamtha
He said, ‘From breaking into T20 and ODIs to now in the Test team, he has made an incredible impression around the world. Whoever follows Surya, they love his ability and the way he thinks,” Tendulkar said.
But Test cricket is going to be different. Surya looks all set to play Test cricket. Someone of his caliber should be considered along with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. All three are capable players and I don’t want to pass judgment here but all three are capable enough to be in the team.
Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in Test cricket, did not want to be drawn into the Adarsh playing XI debate but said consistency is the key to retain his place in the team.
He said, ‘I don’t want to get into team combination and so on. But if we go to the recent times, Shubman Gill has been in good form and Rahul hasn’t been able to contribute, but such is life. You go through these ups and downs. They are both excellent players and will have to keep scoring runs to retain their place in the team.
Tendulkar also talked about the batting maestro’s form Virat Kohli And said that it has been a pleasure to watch him bat in the last few months.
“The way he’s played over the last few months, I really like watching him, very vocal, very sure of what he wanted to do.”
Tendulkar will surely be watching the tight contest between Nathan Lyon and Kohli as it turns out to be one of the great matches.
“World cricket needs these kinds of rivalries. It is important to have those rivalries and remember when Australia came in 1998, it was called Warne vs Tendulkar and I had to remind everyone that it is not Warne vs Tendulkar but Australia vs India. But everyone loves to see such rivalry.”
The Master Blaster further said that Cheteshwar Pujara, who is set to complete the 100 Test milestone in this series, has not received enough recognition for his importance in the Test setup.
“I think Pujara’s achievements are not recognized enough and his importance in the team is not recognized enough,” said the man who played an unprecedented 200 Tests.
“He has done brilliantly for the country and has been instrumental in whatever success the Indian cricket team has achieved,” Tendulkar said.
Read this also | India ready to meet spin-laden hurdles to thwart Australia’s redemption hopes
Australia will surely miss Mitchell Starc but the absence of the left-arm pacer for Tendulkar could reduce the impact of off-spinner Lyon.
Starc, who comes around the wicket (over the wicket for left-handed batsmen) often gets rough with his footwork and makes it difficult for right-handed batsmen (when a spinner operates and exploits of rough patches). That said, Lyon is a world-class bowler and he becomes more effective when Starc is outside off stump due to the rough patches meant for right-handed batsmen. These are the things that will come into play.”
Ashwin’s skill set as well as mind-games will make the series more engaging. The conventional thought process suggests that spinners will come into play when the ball is old but in Ravichandran Ashwin’s case there is a slight crunch in the morning air and some moisture in the ball. The maestro said that the surface could bring him into play in the very first hour.
“I think he is just one short of 450 wickets. Ashwin is a world class bowler and he has been performing brilliantly over the years. The variety that he has is really special and he is not afraid to try things. He wants to make life uncomfortable for the batsmen and that’s how it should be.”
“It is about owning those 22 yards and he has a lot of variations which can force a batsman to think differently and disturb a batsman’s gameplan. Also, he likes to play mind games and this is what makes any series more exciting, interesting and engaging.”
Ravindra Jadeja’s presence in the eleven provides the necessary balance and Tendulkar believes he is capable enough to bat regularly at number six in Tests.
“Jadeja as a package is tremendous. If you have noticed in the last few seasons, he has improved his batting and for me he is good enough to bat at No.6 and he has played very important innings for India. In bowling too, he recently played a first-class match and got wickets (seven vs Tamil Nadu). He had that unfortunate (knee) injury and players like him will overcome challenges.
“What Jadeja has achieved, he has become an important part of this Indian cricket team. A brilliant fielder too and if I am not mistaken, he is eight wickets short of the 250 mark. He has also scored 2500 runs. He is in that special league of players, not many have been able to achieve that in Test cricket.”
(With PTI inputs)
get the latest cricket news Here