In an unexpected turn of events, the Indian cricket team has made significant changes to its lineup for the upcoming World Cup clash against New Zealand in Dharamsala on Sunday. Following Hardik Pandya’s absence due to injury, the team management has decided to introduce Suryakumar Yadav and seasoned pacer Mohd Shami into the playing XI.
Rohit Sharma: We’ll bowl first. No reason, we were here training yesterday and felt a bit of dew comes in. Looks like a good pitch, we’ll back ourselves to chase. Quite important to keep the momentum going, forget what happened in the past. Need to be at it all the time. This is one place everyone wants to come and play, beautiful weather and nice stadium. Hardik isn’t available, so does Shardul. We’ve got Shami and Surya.
Earlier on Saturday, the team faced a moment of concern during the optional net session. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan left the session in discomfort. Yadav had suffered a blow to his right wrist, while Kishan was stung by a honeybee on the back of his head while batting under the stadium lights at HPCA Stadium. Fortunately, Yadav’s injury was deemed non-serious, and he is expected to be fit for Sunday’s match.
Despite not having had a chance to play in the World Cup so far, both Yadav and Shami have been given an opportunity due to Pandya’s injury. The team management has decided to shuffle the playing combination in light of this unexpected change.
When asked about the batting order, Rahul Dravid responded positively about the inclusion of Ishan Kishan. He acknowledged Kishan’s impressive form and left-handed batting style. However, Dravid also emphasized Suryakumar Yadav’s exceptional performance against Australia, highlighting his proficiency against various types of spin bowling. This versatility makes Yadav a valuable addition to the team, particularly against New Zealand’s left-arm spinner.
