Suryakumar took MI home against RCB with an unbeaten 79 in the run-chase in Abu Dhabi.
Unabated pain of not being recognised with an India cap must be a real driving force for Suryakumar Yadav, feels Mumbai Indians' (MI) stand-in captain, Kieron Pollard.
That passion and desire were evident as the middle-order batsman played one of his best knocks for MI, taking them home in the run-chase on Wednesday (October 28) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Abu Dhabi with a fantastic half-century.
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Not part of any of the white-ball squads announced for the tour to Australia on Monday despite his form for MI this IPL season, Suryakumar made 79* of the 165 that his team required against an in-form RCB bowling attack, comprising five international bowlers.
"We lost a few wickets but Surya took us home. Imagine, someone, coming in at that number and batting at that strike rate despite a wicket going down. The most he can do is continue performing for us. As an individual, if you continue to be consistent, the rewards will come," said Pollard at the post-match presentation, as quoted by ANI.
"I have always done what the team wants me to do. If the team performs well, I am happy. Deep down inside he (Surya) must be very very disappointed to not have donned the blue for India," he added.
With another innings to savour, Suryakumar took his tally for the season to 362 runs at an average of 40.22 while maintaining the strike-rate of 155.36. This was his third fifty-plus score for the tournament.
Earlier in the day, MI's bowlers restricted RCB to 164/6 despite them getting a good start to their innings, with a fifty (74) from Devdutt Padikkal. Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) was the pick of the bowlers in Pollard's team where he also contributed the big wicket of AB de Villiers (15).
"I try to analyse. I got the wicket of ABD. We can't just depend on Bumrah. But we would want other guys to step up as it is a team game," the skipper concluded.
The victory all but sealed MI's playoffs berth and took them to the top of the points table with 8 wins in 12 games. The defending champions next take on Delhi Capitals (DC) this Saturday (October 31) in Dubai.