Suryakumar Yadav's T20I career began in the most spectacular way possible in 2021 when he hit a hook shot off Jofra Archer's bowling for a six. Since then, he has continued to mesmerize everyone with his audacious batting.
He has smashed 5 fifties and has an average of nearly 38 in 23 T20Is, which speaks volumes about his consistency.
During the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge last month, Suryakumar initiated a counter-attack when the team found itself in a precarious situation. The right-hander belted the English bowlers all over the park while bringing up his maiden century in international cricket in the process. He eventually scored 118 off 55 balls in a match that saw no other Indian batter crossing the 30-run mark.
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His versatility to bat at any number is another remarkable aspect of the 31-year-old. In the recently concluded tour against West Indies, he opened the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma on 4 occasions and amassed 135 runs at an average of 33.75.
Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle stated that "SKY" is changing the way cricket is being played by not just his unorthodox batting but also by his ability to score runs at any batting position.
“What Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) has shown here is that there is no sanctity to batting positions in t20 cricket. You should be able to bat anywhere. Normally openers tend to be fixed. In what I still think is the greatest t20 team ever assembled, Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock opened right through the season that’s Mumbai Indians 2020. However, that was just the best team ever put together but there they stuck with the openers,” he told Cricbuzz.
“What these people are now saying is there is no sanctity. You should be able to open, you should be able to bat at five, should be able to bat at three. It’s almost like telling a midfielder tomorrow you go in and play as defender. Or you go in and start, or tomorrow you come back and play the holding midfielder’s role. Tomorrow you go and play wide on the flanks. You should be able to play all that,” he added.
“I think that is what they’re saying that sky can bat anywhere today because that is his approach but we must remember he will not give you a 40 50 every day if he gives you 33 or 18 balls that’s fine," he signed off.
Suryakumar Yadav will next be seen in action on August 28 at the Dubai International Stadium when the Men in Blue will take on Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022.
(CRICBUZZ INPUTS)
