Former India batter Suresh Raina has criticized the BCCI selectors for leaving Suryakumar Yadav out of the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. Despite Suryakumar’s challenges in ODIs, Raina believes he could have provided the crucial “X-factor” for the team in the tournament.
Raina’s Support for Suryakumar
Raina acknowledged the strength of India’s squad but expressed his surprise at the exclusion of Suryakumar. He said, “India looks like a strong side. I am confident Rohit will take India to glory. But I was surprised with Surya’s exclusion from the team. India will miss that X-factor and that too in the middle order.”
Impressive Performances in the 2023 World Cup
Raina emphasized Suryakumar’s outstanding performance in the 2023 World Cup. He stated, “We saw Surya’s performance in the 2023 World Cup. He was scoring runs all over the ground, which is why he is called Mr. 360.” Additionally, Raina highlighted Suryakumar’s unique skills, saying, “He plays superb sweep shots and is a game-changer.” Moreover, he praised his ability to handle pressure, noting, “He has the ability to chase a required run rate of 9-plus against top teams.” Raina firmly concluded, “He should have been in the squad.”
Suryakumar’s Potential in Dubai Conditions
Raina also pointed out that Suryakumar would have been an asset in Dubai’s unique playing conditions. He explained, “India needed a player who could dominate the opposition in the middle overs. The dimensions of the Dubai ground are unique—you have small areas in front and larger ones towards the covers. Surya would have utilised these conditions exceptionally well.”
Added Pressure on the Top Order
With Suryakumar’s exclusion, Raina emphasized that the top-order batsmen will now face greater responsibility. He remarked, “In his absence, there will be a lot of responsibility on the top three batters, who are also not in the best form.” Furthermore, he questioned the team’s strategy in the middle overs, asking, “Will India go with KL Rahul, or will Rishabh move up the order? Or will Shubman open the innings with Rohit?” Clearly, there are several crucial decisions to make. Raina also pointed out that Suryakumar’s inclusion would have offered much-needed flexibility in the batting order, making it easier to adapt to different match situations.
Suryakumar’s ODI Statistics
Suryakumar has played 37 ODIs, scoring 773 runs at an average of 25.76. His most recent ODI appearance was in the 2023 World Cup final, where India lost to Australia. He managed 106 runs in seven matches during the tournament, with an average of 17.66.
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Squad
Looking ahead, India will face Bangladesh on February 20 and Pakistan on February 23 in the Champions Trophy 2025.
The squad for the tournament includes Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.
*Harshit Rana will replace Bumrah in the squad for the England ODI series until Bumrah recovers.