25 February,2026 08:31 AM IST | Chennai | R Kaushik
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (right) with Tilak Varma in Ahmedabad recently
The MA Chidambaram Stadium has thrown up numerous unforgettable cricketing memories, none more indelible than the second tie in Test history, between India and Australia in Sept 1986. It's also the scene of many a stirring Indian victory, including the two-wicket win in the decider of an epic three-Test series vs Australia in 2001.
Come Thursday, India will hope to invoke the spirit of that triumph orchestrated by VVS Laxman after having played themselves into a point of no return at this World Cup. To keep their campaign afloat, they must put the embarrassing meltdown against South Africa behind and focus on Zimbabwe.
Plenty has been said of the âtactical blunders' that came back to bite Suryakumar Yadav's men in Ahmedabad. The reality is that India had one bad day at the office; they can't afford another, so it's important that they imbibe lessons from the 76-run lashing.
The left-handedness that dominates the Indian batting has been a talking point, with the clamour to bring back Sanju Samson gathering pace. Forgotten is the fact that Samson played himself out of the XI with a string of low scores. Though Abhishek Sharma is low on confidence, India will be better off trying to get him in the right headspace because when he's flowing, he's unstoppable. He should thus get at least one more opportunity to play himself back to form.
If India needs relief from a plethora of lefties at the top, it won't be the worst idea for Tilak Varma and Suryakumar to swap places. Having harped on flexibility, India have been stubborn in their game plans. Suryakumar at No. 3, where he has had great success, will break the tedium of a left-heavy top three. Of equal necessity is a good start - India's highest opening stand in five ties, which have yielded four first-over wickets, is just 25!
32.00
Suryakumar's average at No. 3 across 32 innings
