Team India are having a great time in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, taking place in the United States and West Indies.
The Men in Blue remained undefeated in Group A as they triumphed over Ireland, Pakistan and the USA in low-scoring games in New York while their last game against Canada in Florida was abandoned due to wet outfield.
The Rohit Sharma-led side will open their Super 8 campaign Afghanistan in Barbados on June 20, followed by the games against Bangladesh and Australia in Antigua and St. Lucia on June 22 and June 24 respectively.
Ahead of the Afghanistan clash, India’s dashing batter Suryakumar Yadav has expressed confidence to step up for his side in the more strokeplay-friendly pitches of the Caribbean.
Notably, India’s group-stage matches were low scoring with all the batters struggling to score runs on the two-paced New York tracks.
Surya, who holds the No. 1 position in the T20I batting rankings for the last two seasons, registered scores of 2 and 7 in the first two games against Ireland and Pakistan. He played an uncharacteristic knock of 49-ball 50* in the third match versus USA to take India over the line.
However, it is no excuse for the swashbuckling batter, who considers himself responsible for his poor showing.
“If have you been number one for two years, you should be able to bat in different conditions and change the game as per the needs of the team. That displays good batsmanship and that is what I try,” said Suryakumar during a media interaction on Tuesday (June 18).
“It’s difficult to generate that force when there’s no pace on the wicket and when someone has read your game nicely. So, at that time, you have to be very smart how you want to extend your innings.
“You have to change according to the situation, what team demands at that moment and talk to your partner who is inside, calm your nerves down and then take the innings ahead.”
Surya will certainly enjoy batting in the more-comfortable and consistent pitches of the Caribbean, and will be expected to get back to his blazing best yet again.
“I was happy playing there as well (laughs). It’s not that we weren’t happy playing there, but we were playing for the first time, so yes, the conditions were different and little challenging as well. But we have played here (in West Indies), we know the conditions.”
“The practice pitches, yeah, they were a little spicy in New York. It was fresh. They made the conditions after they got to know there is a World Cup there. Here they have been making pictures regularly and they are much better than (USA),” he said.
Virat Kohli is opening the batting alongside Rohit Sharma in the ongoing T20 World Cup with Rishabh Pant being promoted to No. 3.
When asked if he will change his usual dynamic style of batting in case of a top-order collapse, Surya replied: “Nothing like that has happened. We try to play the format of the game. If there are early wickets you still have to put runs on the board and bat with that same intent. That is what we try and tell each other to take the positive route.”
“The management has left it to the players to decide at that point of time,” he added.
(CricketNext Inputs)
