IPL 2018: You have to be different to get noticed in Mumbai cricket, says Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is currently the leading run-scorer for Mumbai Indians with 283 runs from 8 outings.

Suryakumar Yadav | IANS

Suryakumar Yadav has grabbed the attention of the cricketing fraternity when he first took the IPL by storm for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014. However, a very few people know that Yadav had started his journey in the cash-rich event back in 2011 when Mumbai Indians had roped him as an unknown youngster.

Fondly known as SKY, Suryakumar didn’t get a chance to represent MI then but he had learnt quite a few tricks by sharing the dressing room with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

Having been not retained by KKR, Suryakumar Yadav was secured by the Mumbai Indians for INR 3.20 crores during the IPL auction in January. Back to his home-based franchise, Yadav is having a memorable time in the ongoing Indian Premier League. He is currently the leading run-scorer for the defending champions with 283 runs from 8 outings.

In his recent interview with Mumbai Indians, the unorthodox Yadav said it is imperative to think out-of-the-box if you want to make a mark in Mumbai cricket.

“If you want to get noticed in Mumbai cricket, you have to be different. You have to do something exceptional. And every time I stepped on the field, I thought that I have to do something different and something interesting, to entertain myself and everyone,” Suryakumar Yadav said in a video for Mumbai Indians.

While Suryakumar is yet to break into the national reckoning, the 27-year-old has impressed one and all with his technique.

“When he first came to the ground, he was just 8 or 9. He would pick the ball and throw it back, but he would stay on the ground. We would have MCA’s U-14 nets at our ground back then. The nets were supervised by Kamath Sir. The moment he saw Suryakumar at the nets, he said this boy will go places. In the age group, he would initially get out after scoring 50 or 60. But there was this particular game at Cross Maidan and there he scored 140-odd off just 40-45 balls. And that was the start of great things,” Surya’s childhood coach Aswalkar said in the video.

“Normally kids in the BARC Colony are inclined towards education, but we took a bit of risk and we thought we will let him pursue whatever he wants. When Kamath sir saw him, he said this boy will at least play Ranji matches,” he further added.

Here’s the video:

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 03 May, 2018

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