India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, has expressed his support for middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav’s game-changing ability. Dravid believes that Yadav will start the upcoming ODI series against Australia.

Suryakumar Yadav’s ODI Career

Suryakumar Yadav, currently the number one T20I batter on the ICC rankings, has had a slow start to his ODI career. In his first 25 innings, he has only managed two fifties and an average of 24.40. However, Dravid has full confidence in Yadav’s abilities and believes that he can make a significant difference for India from the number six position.

Backed by the Coaching Staff

Dravid assured that Yadav’s place in the World Cup 15 is secure and mentioned that his team has complete faith in his game-changing potential. Dravid emphasized Yadav’s ability to turn the course of a game and stated that India is fully supportive of him.

Yadav’s Role in the ODI Series against Australia

Although Yadav is not part of India’s first-choice top six, Dravid confirmed that Yadav will be part of the starting XI against Australia. This opportunity will allow him to further develop as a one-day cricketer.

Resting Senior Players

Dravid addressed the decision to rest senior players, such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, ahead of the ODI series against Australia. He explained that it is crucial for these players to be in the right frame of mind for the World Cup and that these decisions were made in consultation with the players.

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R Ashwin’s Role

Ravichandran Ashwin, who hasn’t played an ODI since January 2022, will have an opportunity to audition for a spin bowler’s position in case the need arises. Dravid praised Ashwin’s experience and his ability to contribute with the bat at number eight. Despite his limited game time, Dravid believes that Ashwin can handle the situation well.