With T20 World Cup in mind, India captain Suryakumar Yadav to turn ‘spotter’ in IPL

Chennai: The IPL is largely seen as the last mega audition for Indians ahead of the T20 World Cup at home next year and it is no surprise that national-team captain Suryakumar Yadav will become a part-time ‘scout’ during the course of the league.
India are in the process of finalising their core group for the global tournament, to be played at home and Sri Lanka tentatively in February-March. With defending champions India keen to display their supremacy on the global T20 stage once again, Suryakumar acknowledged that he will track IPL’s best performers with an eye on the future.
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“My eyes were always open even when I was not the captain and Rohit Sharma was. Every player is important. If someone does really well for his franchise in the IPL, he may well go on to play for India,” Suryakumar, Mumbai Indians’ stand-in skipper, replied when asked if he will also look at the bigger picture during the IPL. “Your eyes have to be wide open for any player who can make an impact for India. It has always been the same, just that there is a bit of added responsibility this time,” said the 34-year-old.

The flamboyant right-handed batter emphasised that he will remain “flexible” in the order, despite no-so-great returns in internationals recently. In the national team, Suryakumar had dropped down to No. 4 to accommodate youngster

Tilak Varma

at one down. “It is always good to have an impact at the top. I have seen that guy (Tilak); he has been working really hard. For Team India, I thought that it will be better if he bats at No. 3 and I can take responsibility at No. 4. The batting number does not matter; I try and bat the same way. I try to make an impact whenever there is an opportunity, so does he (Tilak). You will see guys being flexible during their stints in the IPL,” added Suryakumar.
Ruturaj banking on Noor

According to Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, they are banking on left-arm chinaman

Noor Ahmad

to be a difference-maker in the middle overs. “We always wanted someone in our bowling department who can be aggressive, someone who can take wickets at regular intervals. There were very few in the auction pool. So we wanted to get the best available bowler and I think that Noor is right up there,” Ruturaj said about Noor, picked up for Rs 10 crore at the mega auction. “Hopefully if the conditions suit us, he will definitely be a great threat for the opposition.”