(IPL Credit)
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri expressed admiration for Suryakumar Yadav’s batting prowess ahead of India’s match against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2024. Shastri likened Yadav to AB de Villiers, emphasizing his ability to outsmart bowlers, which he finds dangerous.
Suryakumar Yadav is widely regarded as one of the top T20I batsmen in the world, known for his ability to execute innovative shots across the field. Currently ranked as the No.1 T20I batsman, his performance reflects his exceptional skills in the shortest format of the game.
Yadav, a crucial member of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, initially started slow in the tournament but swiftly regained form with impressive innings in the last two matches. Against the United States of America, he played a crucial role, scoring a vital half-century under pressure when India faced early setbacks. In the subsequent Super 8 match against Afghanistan, Yadav once again rescued the team with another significant fifty, contributing to India’s victory.
Ravi Shastri highlighted Yadav’s ability to hit the ball into unconventional areas, complicating matters for bowlers in T20I cricket. In an interview with the International Cricket Council, Shastri underscored Yadav’s knack for playing 360-degree shots, making him a formidable opponent in the format.
“One of the few who can go 360 degrees and, hit parts of the ground that aren’t easy to hit. He is much like AB de Villiers. He hits the balls into unusual positions and you know, confuses a lot of bowlers. He’s a terrific player. He can outthink the bowler. He pre-empts he’s very intuitive and he backs that challenge.”
Ravi Shastri on Suryakumar Yadav- What makes him dangerous is his ability to improvise and outthink the bowler
Ravi Shastri continued to praise Suryakumar Yadav, highlighting the batter’s dangerous ability to improvise and outwit bowlers. The former India head coach emphasized Yadav’s quick adaptation and game-changing capabilities, noting how he swiftly alters the course of matches.
“When he’s looking to guess right. What makes him dangerous is his ability to improvise and outthink the bowler. He gets into a position where he makes the bowlers bowl at him and that’s what makes him special.
“There’s one thing with him, Suryakumar Yadav, he takes very little time to get going. And if you see his strike rates, within 20 balls, he’s striking at over 200 most of the time.”
Suryakumar Yadav is set to feature next when India faces Bangladesh in their second Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024. The game is scheduled at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday, June 22nd.
