India’s middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav stole the limelight with his swashbuckling century (111* off 51) in the second T20I against Kane Williamson-led New Zealand team at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. His knock helped India post a huge total of 191 and they eventually won by 65 runs as well. He also smashed 11 fours and seven sixes as well.
However, the talented batter is hopeful of breaking into Team India’s Test team. So far, he has played 13 ODIs and 41 T20Is and he is looking forward to getting a Test cap as well. He further added that having played in first-class cricket, he is well aware of the red-ball format as well.
“Aa raha hain, woh (Test selection) bhi aa raha hain (coming, that is also coming,” Suryakumar Yadav was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference. “When we start playing cricket, we start with the red ball and I have also played first-class cricket for my Mumbai team… it was quite okay, so I have a fair idea about the Test format and I enjoy playing that format also. Hopefully, I will get the Test cap soon.”
In 77 first-class matches, Suryakumar Yadav has smashed 5326 runs at an average of 44.01 with 14 centuries and 26 half-centuries as well. Yadav also opened up on the time when he was struggling to play for India in any of the formats as well.
A well deserved Player of the Match award for @surya_14kumar as #TeamIndia win by 65 runs in the 2nd T20I 👏👏
Scorecard – https://t.co/OvmynDiyd8 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/TuYSRsIIgQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2022
“I always keep going back to my past” – Suryakumar Yadav
“I always keep going back to my past. When I am in the room, or travelling with my wife, we keep talking how the situation was two-three years ago. What is the situation now, what has changed now from then, we keep discussing that time. Obviously, there was a bit of frustration that time but we always tried to see if there was something positive I could take out of that phase. How could I become a better cricketer, how to go one step ahead. After that time, I tried to do different things, like eating good food, do quality practice sessions, sleeping on time, so today I am reaping the benefits of all those things I have done then,” Suryakumar Yadav again shared.
However, New Zealand bowlers felt clueless as the batter smashed some extraordinary shots. While talking about the confidence he got, he shared:
“The confidence is always there that, yeah, I have a few runs behind my back. But at the same time, there is a very thin line between you getting a bit complacent also when you are coming into any game after scoring runs. I think you have got to follow all your processes and routine in the same way what you have been doing when you have done well.”
“All these things you have got to keep in mind and rest you have to do in your practice sessions and when you are sitting in the room. You can’t think too much when you are coming into the game, you have to come with a clear mind, positive mindset, with good intent when you are playing the format and then just enjoy yourself,” Suryakumar Yadav concluded.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.