Suryakumar Yadav smashed 61 not out off 25 balls in India's win over Zimbabwe.
On Sunday (November 6), Surya once again starred with the bat, slamming 61 not out in just 25 balls to script India’s comprehensive 71-run victory over Zimbabwe at MCG.
With this win, the Men in Blue finished the group stage at the top with 8 points. They are now gearing up to face England in the semi-final at the Adelaide Oval on November 10.
After India's win over Zimbabwe, head coach Rahul Dravid addressed a press conference, where he attributed Suryakumar's scintillating run to the absolute clarity he has had in his processes and tactics.
"It's incredible. That's why he is the No.1 T20 player in the world at the moment, because of that consistency in a format where scoring at a strike rate that he does. It's not easy to be consistent with the kind of strike rate he's going at. So, it's just fantastic the way he's playing. I think he's been very clear in his processes. He's very clear about his tactics.
"He's been absolutely phenomenal for us. He's just a joy to watch. It's a pleasure to watch him bat when he's in that kind of form. Every time it's like he puts on a show, without a doubt," said Dravid following the match.
In the match against Netherlands, Suryakumar Yadav changed the tempo of India’s innings with a blazing 25-ball 51*. He then stood up tall against South Africa on a bouncy Perth wicket, slamming 68 off 40 balls.
In the group fixture against Bangladesh, the dashing right-hander scored 30 off 16 balls and followed it with another masterclass versus Zimbabwe.
"He's worked very hard. One of the things about Surya is just the amount of hard work that he's put in the nets, in thinking about his game, his fitness. If I look at Surya from a couple of years ago, just to see how he takes care of his body and the amount of time he spends on his fitness. He's just really earning the reward for a lot of the hard work that he's put in on and off the field, and long may it continue," Dravid further stated while showering praise on Surya.
The India head coach also backed left-arm spin all-rounder Akshar Patel to come good in the semifinal against England.
Akshar returned with a brilliant spell of 2/18 in his four overs against Netherlands. However, he has found it difficult against other teams, claiming no wicket while conceding 63 runs in five overs.
"In a few games (he's been expensive). But he's had good games, as well. Again, that's the nature of this tournament, this format. The nature of this format is such that you can get taken apart, especially on a day like today when they lost a lot of wickets there."
"(They had) nothing to lose, they could go after it, and he's bowled well, as well. I think he bowled well in a couple of games and took a few wickets in those games, as well. I thought he bowled a very good over against Bangladesh just before the rain break. He bowled an over for six runs."
"It can happen in this format. I'm not necessarily concerned. Yes, he would have liked to have had a better day than today, but having said that, he's been someone who's actually bowled really well for us over the last period of time," he concluded.
(With IANS inputs)