Suryakumar Yadav on Friday (May 12) once again showed why he is widely regarded as the best batter in the shortest format of the game.
The dashing right-hander put on a batting exhibition in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) comprehensive 27-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Wankhede Stadium.
Batting at No. 3, Surya slammed his maiden IPL hundred (103 not out off 49 balls), helping MI pile up a mammoth 218/5 on the board. His whirlwind knock was studded with 11 fours and 6 sixes.
Following his knock, Suryakumar garnered rich praise from the fans and former cricketers alike. However, it was ex-India spinner Harbhajan Singh’s comment that caught everyone’s attention.
“I can only bow down to him. Keep going. He's almost single-handedly steering MI's campaign. It's not as if others aren't performing, but Suryakumar is operating at a different level. He's unbelievable and unstoppable. I've lost out of words to praise him. Salute to him,” Harbhajan said on his official YouTube channel.
Harbhajan then went on the claim that Suryakumar is currently the “biggest” name in the Mumbai Indians camp.
“I hope he remains fit and keep winning matches for MI. Because the chant of 'Surya, Surya' reverberates the whole ground the moment he comes to bat. Earlier, it used to be 'Sachin, Sachin', and then 'Malinga, Malinga'. Now, it's Suryakumar Yadav. There's no bigger name than Suryakumar in Mumbai Indians right now. He's winning everyone's hearts with his performances,” he opined.
In 12 matches this season, Suryakumar Yadav has amassed 479 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 190.84. He will be next seen in action during MI’s match against Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 16.