India vs Bangladesh: Suryakumar Yadav's ODI struggles demonstrate the need for a strict selection policy by the BCCI

He’s scored a boatload of runs at an alarming strike rate and has done so on a very consistent basis. It’s no exaggeration to say that, without the man nicknamed SKY, India might have fared far worse in the 2022 T20 World Cup. 

However, his form in ODI cricket hasn’t always been the best. As was evident once again during the ODI series against New Zealand, he was struggling for form. 

This has led to many people questioning whether or not the team need to be more strict with selecting players for only the formats they are best suited to. 

It’s not an unrealistic demand to make. After all, most nations like Australia and England have segregated their white and red ball setups to the point where there isn’t a lot of overlap. 

This has two significant benefits: players get to focus on the best format they are best suited to, and it also avoids burnout among players in an increasingly packed cricket calendar. 

But is this question best suited to being applied to Suryakumar Yadav? Or do his failings in the series shine a brighter light on India’s broader struggles in the format? 

When SKY does get out, it happens when he is playing an attacking shot or trying to take the game to the bowlers. And, for the most part, that is a better way to be dismissed – mainly because it shows intent among the batters. 

However, a complete and utter lack of intent is one of India’s most significant problems in any format of white ball cricket. 

Aside from SKY, no player in the Indian team can be attacking from ball one. Most will take their time and accelerate as the innings go on. 

And to be fair, there’s nothing wrong with that approach. It is not sustainable for all three of your top three batters to play precisely the same sheet anchor role. 

It wastes balls and adds further pressure on the lower and middle order to score even more quickly – as they will have to compensate for the lost time. 

That is primarily the reason for SKY’s recent failings in ODIs. He is the only player looking to play in an attacking fashion, while everyone else is okay getting their runs at whatever pace. 

The lack of intent was brutally exposed in the one ODI against New Zealand when they lost. A score just over 300 seemed good – until Tom Latham turned on the fireworks. 

Then even a score above 300 seemed less. And that is the main issue with India’s batting as things stand in ODI cricket – not Suryakumar Yadav’s form. 

Yes, there is a case to be made that he can do more. But the same can be said about almost every other batter in the team. The issue isn’t one player; it’s collective. 

And until that gets fixed, SKY’s brilliance won’t be able to bail them out in the 50-over format.