Despite the injury-prone middle-order, Matthew Hayden, the two-time World Cup champion, has backed India’s selection for the Asia Cup and has billed it a strong contender for the World Cup.
“In the lead up to World Cups you are always going to have some trial players and we have seen the class of Tilak Varma. I think it’s a good strategy in terms of not just this World Cup but even potentially getting into the next World Cup (cycle) as well,” Hayden said here on Monday, on the sidelines of the Ceat Cricket Rating awards.
“The great thing about Team India is it’s got a really solid 1-2-3 combination. Similar to Australia, actually. When you look at their last four or five months, they have had a really good, strong, what we like to call the engine room. And then they have got some good problems to solve through the middle order. And if they can fill spots with a few talented young players like Tilak, put pressure on someone like Suryakumar Yadav, I think that’s a good strategy. Keep everyone honest in the side and performing, so not a bad move. I think it’s a great side.”
