“You can’t hide in the dugout” - Ex-Indian cricketer lashes out at Suryakumar Yadav after 3rd T20I vs SA

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Mohammad Kaif has lashed out at the Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav for not batting at his designated No.3 batting position in the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala on Sunday, December 14.

Delving into the details, in a 118-run chase, Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat at No.4, which didn’t go down well with the former Indian batter as he slammed at the out-of-form Indian captain for hiding in the dugout when he had to spend some time at the crease.

"Suryakumar Yadav had a chance to bat at No.3 today. India had won the match and had a successful powerplay. He had the opportunity to bat at No.3, spend some time in the crease and stay unbeaten at 30 or 40. It would have been good for the upcoming matches. He is a solid player and no one is questioning his ability with the bat," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

"Questions are about his form. He has been a good player; hence, questions are about his form. He had a good opportunity to bat and stay not out, which could have been good for the remaining T20Is before the World Cup. One innings can transform a player into a different player. When Tilak Varma was sent at No.3, cameras were at Suryakumar Yadav," he added.

"When confidence is down, there are second thoughts, whether I should go out to bat or not. But you have to be brave. You can’t hide in the dugout if you want to make a comeback. You have to face that challenge to rise from that phase," Kaif concluded.

Interestingly, Surya, who came out to bat at No.4, could score only 12 runs off 11 balls with two fours before getting out to Lungi Ngidi. However, India sealed the deal in 15.5 overs with seven wickets in hand to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky365 and download the Sky365 App to start betting today!