The India vs West Indies 1st ODI witnessed an amusing twist when Suryakumar Yadav appeared on the field wearing a jersey that didn’t belong to him. Instead, the back of Yadav’s shirt displayed the name and number of wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, sparking curiosity among fans. It was later revealed that the jersey mix-up occurred due to a size issue with Yadav’s kit, which had been a size too small.
A BCCI source confirmed the equipment error, stating, “There was some size issue with his jersey. We were told about it two days before the game. He will be receiving his new jersey after the second ODI as the BCCI has shipped it with Indian team players selected for the T20 series. Till then he will be wearing his teammate’s jersey while playing.”
As part of India’s first white-ball series kitted by sporting giants Adidas, Suryakumar Yadav will have to wait until the final ODI in Tarouba to receive the refitted jersey. Once he gets the correct kit, he will be able to wear it throughout the T20I series as well.
Apart from the jersey confusion, India’s performance in the match proved dominant, with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav putting up a stellar bowling performance to dismantle the West Indian batting. India comfortably chased the target set by the hosts, securing a convincing victory.
Despite the light-hearted jersey incident, the match also showcased India’s experimentation with the batting order. Suryakumar Yadav, who batted at No. 3, faced 19(25) in his innings. However, the question of his continued presence in the ODI side for the rest of the series remains uncertain. Some have called for Sanju Samson, the player whose jersey Yadav wore, to be included in the middle order instead. Samson boasts an impressive ODI average of 66 and might earn a spot as India prepares for the ODI World Cup later this year.
While the jersey mix-up added an element of hilarity to the game, the focus remains on India’s performance and strategic decisions as they continue their tour in the Caribbean. Fans eagerly await further developments in the series and the unveiling of Suryakumar Yadav’s correctly fitted jersey for the upcoming T20 matches.
Sources By Agencies
