Team India batter Suryakumar Yadav has been in prolific form this year, leading the batting in the shortest format of the game. Although he had to wait several years for an opportunity, the dazzling right-handed batter has made every chance count.
He has played some extravagant knocks in T20s this year and was recently quizzed about his favourite knock during an interview with the Indian Express. Yadav picked his half-century against South Africa in the T20 World Cup as the best innings that he has played.
Stating that it was a difficult pitch to bat on, Suryakumar Yadav said that he had never seen anything like the Perth wicket before. He said:
“I think that half-century against South Africa in Perth was the defining knock for me. It was the most challenging wicket I have faced till date. Before the game, I went to bat in the nets for 15 minutes and I got the feeling of Perth there itself. The practice pitches were quick. So I faced a mere 15 balls and told Vicky paaji (batting coach Vikram Rathour) that I am done for the day, whatever batting is to be done will be done in the match.”
Suryakumar Yadav pulled off an incredible rescue act for India scoring 68 runs off just 40 balls on a pitch that all India batters struggled. Rohit Sharma was the second-highest scorer in that game with 15 runs.
“I kept thinking which shots I could play” – Suryakumar Yadav
The wicket was a lot quicker and the pacers made merry on the wicket. However, Suryakumar Yadav had different plans and launched a counter-attack to keep the Proteas bowlers at bay.
Sharing his plan for that innings, the Mumbai Indians (MI) batter said:
“When I went in to bat, I told myself that this pitch is quicker than I thought. So, when I went to the non-striker’s end, I kept thinking which shots I could play as there was bounce too. When we were 49 for 5, we had nothing to lose. We could have got all out for 75, but I decided to take the positive route.”
Suryakumar Yadav’s knock took India to 133/9 in 20 overs, which the Men in Blue almost defended in the second innings. However, David Miller along with Aiden Markram combined to take Proteas to victory in the final over of the match.
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