Suryakumar Yadav, leading the Indian side in their final Group A encounter against Oman in the Asia Cup 2025, had a moment at the toss that reminded everyone of former captain Rohit Sharma. The incident occurred prior to the match on Friday in Abu Dhabi. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Suryakumar was asked about the changes in the playing XI by presenter Ravi Shastri.
Suryakumar mentioned one change clearly, "We have two changes - Harshit comes in…", before momentarily forgetting the other. He then repeated the same line, struggling to recall the second name. In a light-hearted manner, Suryakumar remarked, "I have become like Rohit (laughs)". He then turned to bowling coach Morne Morkel for assistance. It was later revealed that Arshdeep Singh was the other inclusion in the playing XI, replacing Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans and media outlets drawing parallels to Rohit Sharma's similar instances of forgetting names at the toss. Rohit Sharma, known for his illustrious career and leadership, also had a reputation for occasionally forgetting things, even at crucial moments like team selections at the toss. Suryakumar's reference to Rohit was a humorous acknowledgment of this shared trait. Several India stars have often pointed out Rohit's habit of forgetting things. Rohit has made similar blunders at the toss previously, to an extend where the hitman also forgot whether to bat first or bowl first.
Suryakumar's decision to bat first against Oman stemmed from India's desire to gain more batting time in the tournament. With the team having only batted 20 overs across two games, the middle and lower order had not had sufficient opportunity to get time in the middle. The match against Oman provided the perfect opportunity to rectify this, allowing the team to assess their batting depth and prepare for the Super 4 stage.
India has already qualified for the Super 4 stage, making the game against Oman a dead rubber. Oman also made two changes, including Mohammed Nadeem in the playing XI. The match presented a chance for India to fine-tune their strategies and ensure that all players are in good form heading into the crucialSuper 4s.
