IPL 2018: Flexible Suryakumar Yadav enjoying his opening role for Mumbai Indians

Suryakumar Yadav is currently the leading run-scorer for Mumbai Indians with 340 runs from 9 outings.

Suryakumar Yadav | IANS

Having been not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders, Suryakumar Yadav was fetched 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 340 runs from 9 outings.

On Friday (May 4) night, Suryakumar put on a show to help Mumbai Indians register their third win of this year’s IPL. The 27-year-old scored a classy 42-ball 57 against Kings XI Punjab – his fourth fifty of IPL 2018 while opening the innings – as MI chased down the stiff target of 175 with 6 wickets in hand and an over to spare.

While Surya spent 4 seasons with KKR, he didn’t get the chance to exhibit his skills at the top of the order. Normally a middle-order batsman, Yadav, in his recent interview with IPL’s official website, confessed that he is cherishing the new found freedom at the very top for MI.

"I am really enjoying my new role. I didn't know it was coming or not but I was flexible to bat at any number for this team and I'm glad and thankful to them that they gave me this opportunity," Surya quoted.

"I've been playing most of my games at Wankhede, so it wasn't that difficult. But, I knew that opening the innings for such a big team will be a great responsibility and a challenge, so I accepted it with both hands. Rather than focusing on too many things, I kept it simple and played my natural game," he added.

Yadav was in all praise for his captain Rohit Sharma, who has given him the license to express himself out there in the middle.

"It's completely the same. As he comes on his Mumbai duties and plays the game for Mumbai. It's completely the same and it wasn't difficult to play under him because he knows my game and I know him. So, he knows how I should go about it and where I can press the peddle. So, he has let me free, allowed me to play my natural game and just go out and express myself," he remarked.

Talking about his mesmerizing knock against the KXIP, the Mumbaikar said he should have stayed till the end and finished the game.

"Feeling great. I contributed to the team's victory. I'm disappointed that I didn't finish the game but in the coming games I'd love to do that," Suryakumar Yadav concluded.

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 05 May, 2018

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