Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has backed Suryakumar Yadav to return to form in the five-match T20I series against Australia. Chopra noted that the Dubai pitches in the Asia Cup were not suiting SKY and he would enjoy batting on the Australian tracks, which are known for their extra bounce and pace.
Yadav had failed to lead from the front in the Asia Cup as he could not deliver the goods with the bat. The right-hander could only manage 72 runs in six innings at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 101.40 in the continental tournament.
Yadav has all the experience under his belt and he would look to deliver in the Australian conditions. The Mumbai batter has scored 2670 runs in 90 T20Is at an impressive average of 37.08 and a blistering strike rate of 164.20.
“Suryakumar Yadav is fresh from an Asia Cup victory, but it’s been 16 international games and he hasn’t scored a half-century. This is the place where it must change. He will have to change it here and I feel it will change as well because the pitches in Dubai especially, where we were playing the Asia Cup, weren’t suiting him,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“They were extremely slow pitches and the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat. Runs haven’t come before and after the IPL. However, in the IPL, the pitches are good, he plays for Mumbai, he hit a lot, and was making 30-plus scores consistently in every game. That form might return now,” he added.
On the other hand, Abhishek Sharma is in red hot as he scored 314 runs in the Asia Cup at a blistering strike rate of 200. Chopra said the Australia series will be a litmus test for the Indian opener.
“This will be a litmus test for Abhishek Sharma. He had gone to South Africa, and I will be very honest, South Africa’s team was okay. Abhishek Sharma was okay-okay there, but his stocks have risen after that. He has launched his IPO in a way, everyone has bought his shares, and the valuation has been very good,” he said.
“England got hit a lot and then he set the world on fire in the Asia Cup. Whether it was a premier fast bowler or not, he made everyone lick dust. Australia will present a different challenge. It is a very important phase and series in Abhishek Sharma’s life. These five matches will tell us a lot about Abhishek Sharma, the batter,” Chopra observed.
The first T20I between India and Australia will be played at Canberra on Wednesday.
