VVS Laxman: I want Suryakumar Yadav to grow and gain confidence

Suryakumar Yadav. Picture/ AFP

Suryakumar Yadav has been in spectacular form since the past year and will be looking to carry that forward in the upcoming tour in Sri Lanka.

SK Yadav, 30, is yet to make his ODI debut for Team India but has played 3 T20Is scoring 89 runs at a stunning average of above 44 including a fifty.

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports' Show Game Plan, former Team India batsman VVS Laxman lavishes praise on Suryakumar Yadav ahead of India's tour of Sri Lanka, "Both of them capitalized on those opportunities quite well, and I was excited seeing the way Suryakumar Yadav batted at No.3. His first scoring shot in international cricket, that too against a quality fast bowler like Jofra Archer, shows the kind of confidence, the talent & the skill he possesses - this is a great opportunity! I want him to play all six matches - 3 ODIs & 3 T20Is - because he is someone who can definitely walk into the T20 World Cup squad, as far as I am concerned. I want him to grow and gain the confidence of scoring runs, even at the international level."

VVS Laxman also highlighted his playing XI for India's tour of Sri Lanka, "I will go with Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw (as opening batsmen). No.3 will be Suryakumar. No.4 will be Sanju Samson - in ODIs. No.5 will be Manish Pandey. No.6 will be Hardik Pandya. No.7 Will be Krunal Pandya. My two fast bowlers will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar. And my two spinners will be Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. This is my ODI XI."

Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also highlighted his playing XI for India's tour of Sri Lanka, "I agree with VVS Laxman's list. Only one change I would like; Hardik Pandya is bowling - so I will have him as an all-rounder. One more batsman I want, that is Nitish Rana. Apart from that everything will be the same because I like to see Hardik Pandya bowl a few overs. Apart from that everything else is ditto. Copy paste."

Team India, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series starting July 18 which will be followed by three T20Is.

Also Read: VVS Laxman: Kuldeep Yadav requires to get his confidence back