“One of the Greatest, Make Him Bat at No. 3”: Former Windies Captain Compares Viv Richards with Suryakumar

Cricket commentators have described India’s 2024 T20 World Cup team as a well-rounded group. The squad, which covers almost every position and seems to be a good balance of youth and experience, was revealed last week by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. However, selecting eleven players from the group of fifteen would not be a simple task for the team management once the competition gets off in the US and the West Indies.

Before the main event, cricket legends have been speculating about India’s potential lineup. Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has jumped on the bandwagon and said that Suryakumar Yadav could bat at number three.

According to Lara, who spoke with the Press Trust of India, Suryakumar may put India in an unbeatable position in that game if he is given ten to fifteen overs to bat.

Sky needs to bat at three, and I’m not sure whether you’ll like this or not, but that’s my one piece of advice. All he needs to do is bat at three. He is among the best Twenty20 players in the world. And if you talk to guys like Sir Viv, they’ll tell you that he once wished he could be in the center,” Lara said to PTI.

And it seems to me that Sky is the same way. So, take advantage of it as soon as you can. Get him out there and see what happens if he can bat for ten to fifteen overs; he’s not an opener.”

If you bat him first, he’ll put you in an unbeatable position, and if you bat him second, he’ll win the game. And then let everyone kind of situate themselves outside of that; but, he said, a sound framework is crucial.

Although there has been constant discussion over Kohli’s strike rate, Lara believes that guys like him are essential in the starting lineup.

“A player such as Virat must be included in the starting eleven,” Lara said.

For India, Suryakumar often bats at number four and Kohli at number three. In order to make room for Surya at three, Kohli and Rohit might choose to start the innings together, leaving Yashasvi Jaiswal on the sidelines. Just figure out a way to get Suryakumar to bat at three, Lara said.