He lauded Suryakumar for showing enormous patience during his wait to get India call.
India’s batting legend VVS Laxman heaped praise on Suryakumar Yadav for showing enormous patience in his wait to get India's call-up, saying he is a great role model for youngsters and deserves his spot in India’s Playing XI in the upcoming five-match T20I series against England.
After winning the Test series 3-1 against England, the focus now shifts to the T20Is with the entire five-match T20I series will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from March 12.
The 31-year-old earned his maiden call-up into the Indian cricket team along with the likes of Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia for the T20I series against England after a long wait despite being a consistent performer in the domestic circuit and IPL over the years.
Praising the right-handed batsman, Laxman called the latter “a positive run-getter” and said he is a perfect example that patience and hard work always paid off.
Laxman said on Star Sports' show “Game Plan”, “He deserves it, I think he is a great role model for youngsters, especially in India; because they lose patience very quickly - because all positive run-getters in first-class cricket expect to get into the Indian team - but it is difficult.”
Former batsman further noted, “There is so much quality, so much talent, and so much competition, but what did Suryakumar do? - he goes back to first-class cricket, scores runs for Mumbai, whenever he gets an opportunity for Mumbai Indians - he is a positive run-getter. He plays in tough situations and wins the match and that's what you expect from a player.”
He signed off by saying, “Ultimately there is a saying which my coach taught me early on, 'If the selectors are not opening the door, break open the door!', the only way you can do that is by your performance - we're not sure if he will get to play in the playing XI but he definitely deserves a spot in the squad of that T20 Indian team.”
(With ANI Inputs)