If there’s one batter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 who will easily walk into anyone’s best Playing XI, it is India’s Suryakumar Yadav. The dashing right-hander is among the few batters who can pile up big scores while striking at an exceptionally high rate.
In the T20 World Cup, where owing to massive ground dimensions in Australia, most batters are happy to walk away with a strike rate of 120 or 130, Surya has been striking at almost 194.
The wide array of shots at his disposal is one of the main factors contributing to his stratospheric ascension. Fans have been comparing his 360-degree batting to that of South African legend AB de Villiers, who pioneered the art.
When asked about his comparison to the original "Mr. 360," the 32-year-old claimed that only De Villiers is deserving of the title, not him. The former Proteas batter, though, argued otherwise.
“I am very happy for Surya. I think he has come a very long way. I never saw this happening, the way he is playing.
“He was very conservative and stuck to his game plans at the start but he is now laying the platform and foundation and then starting to dominate the bowlers. It is fantastic to see that and he has a bright future ahead of him,” De Villiers said, as quoted by PTI.
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He went on to remark that people are right in comparing Surya to him and that, if he keeps playing the way he is in the coming years, he would rank among the best batters the game has ever seen.
“Yes they are. The only thing he will have to concentrate on is his consistency. He will have to do this for 5 to 10 years and then he will find himself in the golden books of cricket players.”
“Any player that gets into form… I think of quite a few guys that really start playing at the peak of their powers, that makes me very excited. Each sportsman for that matter….”
‘ABD’ said it’s great to watch the Indian batter in full flow.
“It is beautiful to watch when they are really free and having fun out there. Great to watch Surya play the way he is playing now,”
Yadav will next be seen in action when India takes on England in the second semi-finals of the showpiece event on Thursday (November 10) in Adelaide.
(PTI INPUTS)
