Suryakumar Yadav also revealed that he doesn't mind batting at any position and he just wants to express himself at the fullest.
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Suryakumar Yadav played a match-winning knock of 62 from 40 balls against New Zealand to help India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. The Mumbai Indians batsman came in to bat at No. 3 position and smashed 6 boundaries and 3 maximums to help his team chase down the target of 165 runs with two balls to spare. The 31-year-old has showered praise on Indian batting legend Virat Kohli for giving him the opportunity to excel at the No.3 position. Yadav stated that he was disappointed after missing India’s T20 World Cup match against New Zealand on 31st October 2021.
Yadav added that Kohli sacrificed his No.3 position and allowed him to go in at that spot in India’s final T20 World Cup match against Namibia. He also said that when he made his debut against England earlier this year, Kohli sent him to bat at No. 3 spot to get some match practice.
“I was really disappointed when I missed the New Zealand game with back spasms. I wanted to make a mark in the T20 World Cup so it was nice of him. I still remember when I made my batting debut, he was the one who sacrificed his position and let me go at No. 3 when I played against England and he batted at 4.
It was the same thing. He asked whether I want to go in so that I get some World Cup game time. It was really nice of him and I enjoyed coming back not out in that game,” said Yadav in the post-match press conference.
Meanwhile Yadav has also said that he doesn’t mind batting at any position, he just wants to express himself at the fullest. He is a 360 degree player who has so many shots at his arsenal.
Yadav’s ability to play according to the situation and accelerate at his will is an asset. Although he is a late bloomer he seems like a player who is here to stay at the top for sometime. In four innings at No.3 spot Yadav now had 176 runs at an average of 58.66 and strike rate of 164.48.
“It’s not like I want to bat at any specific position. I am happy to bat anywhere. I have been batting at the No. 3 position for my franchise for the last three years so it was nothing different for me. I just go out and express myself, the way I do in the nets. I have followed the same process for the last 2-3 years. I don’t try and do anything different. I just want to go out and enjoy myself,” concluded Yadav.
After KL Rahul was dismissed for 15, Yadav and Rohit Sharma put together a 59-run partnership to build a solid foundation. Although Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 48 and then Yadav was bowled by Trent Boult, Rishabh Pant helped India cross the line with a boundary off the fourth ball of the 20th over.
