RP Singh backs Suryakumar Yadav to be India's No. 4 in Cricket World Cup 2023

Former Indian pacer RP Singh believes Suryakumar Yadav could be a good choice at No 4 in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.

India's struggle to find the perfect player for No 4 in ODIs is a well-known concern. For years, the team management has tried multiple players, but none could stay permanent in that spot. In the 2019 World Cup, India faced similar trouble, which was one of the reasons for their failure to make it to the final. 

In 2023, India are yet to find their perfect player for that position. Shreyas Iyer has had some success compared to others at No 4, but the Indian batter is unlikely to feature in the home World Cup as he is recovering from injury. 

While Suryakumar Yadav is yet to make an impact in ODIs, RP Singh believes that one should not be ruling him out. 

“Suryakumar Yadav is a good option for No 4, along with Shreyas (Iyer), provided he is fit. But if you are looking at him even as a backup option, it is important to give him game-time and he is certainly a good pick,” said RP Singh said in a press interaction organized by Jio Cinema.

RP Singh also pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav is yet to make a mark in the format but is a good pick. “Suryakumar is yet to make his mark in one-day cricket, but the way he is batting, and the kind of batter that he is, he can be a good option for No 4 or 5,” he said.

Suryakumar Yadav will have to change his game plan a bit: RP Singh

Suryakumar Yadav has been in great touch in T20 cricket but could not reflect the same in the ODIs. Suryakumar Yadav has managed just 452 runs in 22 innings in ODIs.. Talking about Suryakumar Yadav's failure, RP Singh said that he will have to change his game plan a bit for ODIs. 

“You must always have backup options heading into major tournaments. His current form in T20 cricket has been very good, one-day format is different because you have (to face) more balls. Due to that, he will have to change his game plan a bit,” he said.

"If you think Umran is a long-term option then he has to be polished accordingly": RP Singh

RP Singh also mentioned that Umran Malik must improve his skills as he cannot depend only on speed in international cricket. "Umran has the advantage of pace. But the issue with him is the skill, his deliveries do not move much,” RP Singh said.

“In international cricket, speed alone cannot be the only weapon. You have to make a game plan as well, and that is something he is not learning as quickly as he should. He also concedes a lot of runs. But he seems to be in the loop for the World Cup because he has the pace.” “But he should also get game-time. You cannot have someone playing one match and then sitting out for two. If you think Umran is a long-term option then he has to be polished accordingly,” he added.

RP Singh also mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah's return to international cricket would be a good thing for India. “For Bumrah, getting some games under his belt on the Ireland tour and in the Asia Cup will be better in the context of playing in the World Cup. When you are returning from an injury layoff, the body and the mind need time to adjust and you need to play some matches for that,” RP Singh signed off.