IND vs SL: "I Was Always Keen From 2020 For Him To Be A Part Of The Indian Team"

India will host a white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which will include three T20Is and three ODIs. The Men in Blue will play the first T20I at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, January 3. Hardik Pandya will captain the team in a shorter format in the absence of senior players Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli, with Suryakumar Yada serving as his deputy.

Suryakumar, who is the No. 1 ranked batter in T20Is, had a fantastic year with the bat and ended the year as the top run-getter in the format. The 32-year-old scored 1164 runs in 31 matches at an impressive average of 46.56 and a strike rate of 187.43. Surya was also the third-highest scorer in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

Hope Suryakumar Continues The Run For The Indian Team – Hardik Pandya

Speaking to the media during the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Hardik Pandya stated that he wanted Suryakumar Yadav in Team India in 2020. Pandya praised Surya and expressed hope that the right-hander could continue his fine form.

“I have said in the past for Surya that he played international cricket late. I was always keen from 2020 for him to be a part of the Indian team. But, unfortunately, he was not. So, God gave him what he did not get in the past. He played late but, yes, he got exactly what he would have got earlier as well,” said Pandya during a press conference on Monday.

Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav (Image Credits: Twitter)

“I can only wish all the best and I hope he continues the run for the Indian team and flourishes more in life and scores more runs and makes sure that he helps the team to win as well,” Pandya added.

Suryakumar Has The Game To Kind Of Change The Momentum – Hardik Pandya

Hardik believes Yadav can be a very important player in Tests as well, and has the ability to change the momentum and the situation.

“He has been fantastic, and going ahead, he is a very important player (for India) in all the formats. I feel in red ball (cricket) as well, he has the game to kind of change the momentum and the situation (of the match), if he comes (to bat) and I am sure (that) the selectors and the captain are looking at him as well.”

“In white ball cricket, as everyone knows, I don’t need to tell how important he is. But for us, as captain and management, he is one of the most important players and I want him to flourish more.”

Also read: IND vs SL: “Team Management Should Pick Up Ishan Kishan Across All Formats, He’s An Ideal Candidate For Team India If Pant Is Not Around” – Maninder Singh