India’s final group-stage clash against Oman may not have affected their progression in the Asia Cup, but captain Suryakumar Yadav’s unusual tactics caught everyone’s attention. Instead of taking his usual place in the middle order, the Indian skipper pushed himself all the way down to No. 11, giving his teammates extra batting time in what was effectively a dead rubber.
The decision drew support from legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar, who praised Suryakumar for prioritizing the team’s preparation over personal runs. “Even if he had come in and batted for an over, he could have cleared the ropes easily,” Gavaskar told Irfan Pathan during a chat on Sony Sports. “But after the way he batted against Pakistan, he probably doesn’t need the practice. Giving others a chance made sense.”
India, who had already booked their Super Four spot with wins over the UAE and Pakistan, posted 188 for eight and defended it successfully, beating Oman by 12 runs.
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According to Gavaskar, Suryakumar’s move was more than just generosity. “Maybe he wanted Kuldeep Yadav to get some time in the middle. If India lose early wickets later in the tournament, that experience could prove valuable. This is what makes Suryakumar different—he thinks outside the box,” he explained.
The former captain also reminded viewers that this wasn’t the first time SKY surprised everyone with his decisions. “We saw it in Sri Lanka when he bowled himself and even gave Rinku Singh the ball at a critical moment. What looked like a lost game turned into a win because of that gamble. He is innovative, and this was another example of it.”
After the game, Suryakumar himself laughed off the idea of batting at No. 11 again. “Maybe from the next match I’ll promote myself a little,” he joked at the presentation. He also gave full credit to Oman for their spirited fight. “With Sulu sir (Sulakshan Kulkarni) as their coach, I expected them to be tough. They played some outstanding cricket. It was enjoyable to watch.”
The Indian skipper also highlighted how difficult conditions were for his players. “It’s not easy to suddenly walk out and bat in this humidity, especially for guys like Arshdeep and Harshit. Hardik too had an unfortunate dismissal, but he made up for it with the ball. That’s the kind of impact he brings.”
With the group stage wrapped up, Suryakumar summed up India’s mindset ahead of the big clash on Sunday: “All set for Super Fours.
