UAE head coach Dougie Brown has challenged Chirag Suri to make the most of his opportunities in the Netherlands series this month after seeing an improvement to his game since returning from the IPL.
Suri, 22, has been recalled for the three-match 50-over series against the Dutch, starting next Monday after a six-month absence and the first time since his stint with Gujarat Lions ended.
He failed to get any game time in India but training with the likes of 2011 World Cup winner Suresh Raina, ex-New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch certainly had a big impact on Suri’s development.
The evidence was there to see with the former GEMS Modern Academy and Repton School pupil scoring six half-centuries in the domestic tournaments.
Now seven weeks on from the IPL, Brown is encouraged by Suri’s game and believes it bodes well for him to make his mark in the national team, beginning with the Dutch.
“He’s had a good six or seven weeks in the IPL and he looks a very matured and well all-rounded player now,” said the 47-year-old, who will take charge for the first time as head coach after serving a successful three-month stint as interim.
“Clearly he was a talented player before he went away to India but I think he’s come back more polished. He’s just 22 and it’s a good age to be getting opportunities. He’s a very talented cricketer and there’s no doubt that he will add to the dynamic that we’ve already got.”
'I’ve got goals that I want to achieve and I hope for the best.' – @suri_chirag on his #UAE recallhttps://t.co/uTDYSmbm3X pic.twitter.com/ajTZOyGHTG
— Denzil M Pinto (@denz_360) June 19, 2017
He added: “We’re hoping with him playing that he can perform and that’s the same with any other player in the squad.
“The fact that he’s young and inexperienced is many ways irrelevant. Having been in the IPL, if there was any step to take up to the national team then it is now. He’s confident and I feel that given the chance, he’ll do really well for the team.”
For Suri, a former UAE U-19, who has five senior caps, he’s part of a 14-man squad that will be skippered by Rohan Mustafa.
The captain has been impressed with Suri’s efforts in training and feels he has all the qualities to become “one of the best batsmen for the UAE”.
“He’s been performing well and I feel he can be one of the best batsmen for the UAE,” said the 28-year-old all-rounder.
“If you have a youngster in the team, then it’s good sign for those players in the youth levels.
“I felt before that there should be some Under-19s players in the UAE team because you can give them support and it would be very good to blend more youths,” he added.
