IND vs AUS: India coach Rahul Dravid backs Suryakumar Yadav, confirms he will play first two ODIs

India coach Rahul Dravid has said that they have completely backed Suryakumar Yadav and confirmed that the batter will be playing the first two ODIs against Australia.

Suryakumar has been struggling with his form in ODIs recently. Despite being a formidable player in the shortest format of the game, his performance in ODIs has been less than impressive. As of September 2023, he had played 26 matches in the 50-over format and managed to score only 511 runs. His average stands at a modest 24.33, with a strike rate of 101.38.

In a recent ODI series in the West Indies, Suryakumar scored 19, 24, and 35. Prior to this, he had been dismissed for three consecutive first-ball ducks against Australia in March 2023. His highest score in ODIs is 64, but since then, he has only made more than 30 twice in 17 innings.

Suryakumar got one outing in the Asia Cup against Bangladesh and failed



to impress with the bat. Despite his poor run of form, Dravid backed the Mumbai batter.

Speaking ahead of the first ODI against Australia on JioCinema, the India coach said that they have offered their backing to the 33-year-old and he is part of the World Cup squad.

“We have picked our team for World Cup, Surya is in it. We have completely backed him. He will certainly get the first two games," Rahul Dravid said in the press conference ahead of the first ODI.

Dravid also remained coy on the batting spot of Ishan Kishan. The India coach suggested that the team management wants the batters to play in their usual positions but with Kishan, it is slightly different as he can be flexible.

"We would ideally want to play our batters for WC in their usual positions. Ishan Kishan, however, gives us that flexibility. He can bat at top and in middle-order too."