(AP Photo)
Following his match-winning innings of 53 runs off 28 balls against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup Super 8 match, Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav showered praise on Afghan spinner Rashid Khan, labeling him as the premier bowler in the world.
During his innings, Suryakumar managed to score 16 runs off the six deliveries he faced from Rashid, contributing significantly to India’s total of 181/8 at the Kensington Oval on Thursday night.
Reflecting on his performance after the match, the top-ranked T20I batsman emphasized the importance of asserting authority against Rashid Khan, whom he regards as the best bowler globally.
“I have told this before as well and I’ll say that again on air when he bowls, it’s very difficult to pick him so I know what shots I want to play when I’m inside. Best bowler in the world. You can’t let him dominate. You have to be a step ahead. But I am happy to be on a better side today,” said Suryakumar.
India found themselves at 79/3 after 10 overs batting first, with the dismissals of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli. However, a crucial partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya steadied their innings, eventually culminating in a competitive total of 181/8.
In reply, Afghanistan faltered and were bowled out for 134 runs, largely due to an outstanding bowling display by Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed figures of 3-7. This dominant performance secured a comprehensive 47-run victory for India.
Recognized for his pivotal innings, Suryakumar Yadav was awarded the Player of the Match. Reflecting on his contribution, the batsman remarked on his performance “I think there’s a lot of hard work and practice gone behind this. And as I say again and again, there’s a lot of process and routines involved and when I go inside, when I play the game, I know I’m pretty clear in my mind what I want to do.”
When questioned about adapting to the transition from playing on demanding pitches in the USA to the conditions in the Caribbean, the 33-year-old replied “I think you just need to know what the game plan is. You practice accordingly when you get a few practice sessions and just know your game and when you go inside give the team fast what the team requires on that given day.”
