Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023: Sachin Tendulkar reckoned that Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are good enough to start in a playing XI.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 8, 2023 22:06 IST
BGT 2023: Suryakumar looks perfectly equipped to play Test cricket, says Tendulkar. Courtesy: PTI
By India Today Web Desk: Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar reckoned that Suryakumar Yadav is тАШperfectly equippedтАЩ to play Test cricket. Yadav was picked in IndiaтАЩs squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy after he made a name for himself in white-ball cricket, especially T20Is. The right-handed batter was also impressive while playing for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.
Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket in 2013, reckoned that Suryakumar, Shubman Gill and vice-captain KL Rahul have the potential to start in a playing XI.
тАЬFrom entering into T20s and ODIs and now in the Test squad, he has made an incredible impression around the globe. Whoever follows Surya, they fall in love with his ability and the way he thinks,тАЭ Tendulkar was quoted as saying to PTI.
тАЬBut Test cricket is going to be different. Surya looks perfectly equipped to play Test cricket. Someone of his calibre should be considered along with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. All three are capable players and I donтАЩt want to pass any judgement here, but all three are capable enough to walk into the team,тАЭ he stated.
Suryakumar, who became the ICCтАЩs T20I cricketer of the year in 2022, has scored 5549 runs from 79 matches at an average of 44.75 with three centuries and 13 half-centuries.
Tendulkar was also impressed with the form Virat Kohli has shown in 2023. Kohli was exceptional against Sri Lanka, although he couldnтАЩt quite replicate the same against New Zealand.
тАЬWith the way he has played in the last few months, I really liked watching that, very assertive, very certain of what he wanted to do,тАЭ Tendulkar added.
The focus will be on both Suryakumar and Kohli and their performances in the upcoming four-match Test series against Pat CumminsтАЩ Australia.
The opening Test of the series is scheduled to get underway on Thursday, February 9 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur.
