Sooryavanshi-Abhishek for ODIs: Yuvraj Singh wants India to make a big move

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh believes India should give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan opportunities in ODIs. While Kishan has already played 32 matches in the 50-over format, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi are yet to make their ODI debuts.

Sooryavanshi and Abhishek were sensational in the Wellington T20I, helping India post the highest team power-over score in T20I history with 118 runs without losing a wicket.

Yuvraj said that by not selecting players like Sooryavanshi, Abhishek and Kishan in the ODI setup, India did not do justice to their talent. Earlier this year, Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest debutant during the tour of England Abhishek recently smashed a century of 35 to help India take an elusive 3-0 lead in the T20I series against New Zealand.

“I would like to see him (Abhishek) in ODIs to be honest and I have said it before that if we are not selecting people like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 50-over cricket, then somewhere along the line we are not doing justice to their talent,” Yuvraj told PTI on the sidelines of the Protocol 32 event.

‘ABHISHEK HAS PUT A LOT OF HARD WORK’

India currently have Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma at the top of the ODI order, with Virat Kohli anchoring the middle order. Yuvraj said that Abhishek has put in the hard yards over the years and deserves an opportunity in the team. However, he also acknowledged that the presence of several established players makes it difficult for the left-hander to break into the ODI side.

“I understand we have some great players and it is difficult to make room for them. I think the way they (the young batsmen) are performing, they should be in the squad soon. Whatever (Abhishek) has achieved is due to his hard work and credit goes to him,” he added.

After taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, India suffered their first defeat of the series, going down by 87 runs at Auckland’s Eden Park. Chasing a daunting target of 260, India were restricted to 172 for nine. After Sunday’s fifth and final T20I in Hamilton, both teams will focus on the five-match ODI series starting on November 4.

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