Hayden: Gamers like Tilak Varma can put strain on Suryakumar Yadav
“We’ve seen the class of Tilak Varma. I think it’s a good strategy in terms of not just this World Cup however even doubtlessly stepping into the subsequent World Cup as nicely,” Hayden stated on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards ceremony in Mumbai. “The great thing about India is it’s got a really solid one-two-three combination. Similar to Australia actually, when you look at their last four or five months, they’ve had a really good and strong – what we like to call – the engine room. And then they’ve got some good problems to solve through the middle order.
“And if they will fill spots with proficient younger gamers like Tilak Varma, put strain on somebody like Suryakumar Yadav, I believe that is technique. Keep everybody trustworthy within the facet and performing. So not a nasty transfer. I believe it is an important facet.”
Tilak, who hasn’t played an ODI yet, was included on the back of his promising performances during the T20I series in the Caribbean. Hayden said the emergence of such young talents is one of the positives to come out of injuries to various senior players in the Indian side. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s No. 1 bowler, has just returned from a 11-month hiatus and has been named in the 17-member squad. Ditto with KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who have missed the last few months because of injuries too.
“In the panorama of contemporary cricket now, you are going to get accidents,” Hayden said. “We’ve seen that with Jasprit Bumrah and we have seen the emergence of gamers in and round him which have had a possibility as a result of he hasn’t been enjoying. They have a look at their bench energy as a lot as they have a look at their enjoying make-up as a result of finally you are going to be challenged.
“When I look back at the World Cup campaigns that I was a part of, I remember [Shane] Warne was out with a drug-related incident [in 2003] and then [Brad] Hogg comes into the side and has an unbelievable series in South Africa. So as much as we’d love to see superstars feature in World Cups, the outliers tend to be those players that might win you a World Cup. It might be Ishan Kishan, for example. He might have an unbelievable World Cup and blast everyone away. The selectors don’t write their names down first, but they have something special and they can deliver it on a World Cup stage.”
There are some key questions for India heading into the 50-over World Cup at residence this yr: who will likely be their No. 4? What will their center order seem like? While captain Rohit Sharma stated he wished to maintain the batting order flexible, Hayden stated the Asia Cup would give India an opportunity to fine-tune their plans and presumably discover solutions they want.
“The Asia Cup is kind of where you’re going to see a lot more answers to those questions,” Hayden stated. “Playing in their home conditions, in the build-up to the World Cup – the World Cup’s on our doorstep – that’s about as good as you get from the subcontinent teams, playing in Sri Lanka, in Pakistan, ahead of an enormous campaign here in India. There’s no question that you’re going to have bench players playing in this World Cup. Your outliers are as important as your key players. And it’s in your favour.
“But everyone knows how a lot everybody loves cricket right here as nicely. To be at residence, there’s an unlimited strain that can include that. But I believe that you have good lead up time and good preparation.”