By D.W.G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
On Thursday, June 20, Suryakumar Yadav played a crucial role in boosting India's score in their Super 8s match against Afghanistan at the T20 World Cup 2024. India, batting first, found themselves in a tough spot after losing early wickets. Captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed during the powerplay, and although Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli showed promise, they failed to turn their starts into significant scores.
Shivam Dube also struggled, leaving India teetering at 90 for 4 in the 11th over. However, Suryakumar Yadav rose to the occasion, scoring a quickfire 53 off 28 balls, including 5 fours and 3 sixes. This was his second consecutive half century of the tournament, showcasing his consistency under pressure.
Confronting Afghanistan’s Ace Bowler
Suryakumar didn’t shy away from attacking Afghanistan’s star bowler, Rashid Khan, who had already claimed the wickets of both Pant and Kohli. Utilizing his signature sweep shot, Suryakumar hit Rashid for two fours and a six, asserting his control during the crucial middle overs. This on field battle was punctuated by a lighthearted exchange between the two players. After being hit for boundaries, Rashid playfully grabbed Suryakumar’s helmet, a moment interpreted humorously by commentator Ravi Shastri as Rashid telling Suryakumar to “stop sweeping me.”
Post innings, Suryakumar shared insights into his strategy, particularly in navigating the challenging middle overs. He emphasized his preference for batting between overs 7 to 15, a phase where bowlers typically aim to tighten the game. "That’s what I have practiced for. I enjoy batting between overs 7 to 15 because that’s the most difficult phase where the opposition bowlers look to control things. I like to take charge during this phase, and I enjoy it," he explained.
Reflecting on his mindset after Kohli's dismissal, Suryakumar added, “I started chewing my gum harder when he (Kohli) got out. I just backed my game and my instincts. I’ve played a lot of cricket with Rohit Sharma and now under him, he understands my game well. He knows how I play, so he sits back and enjoys it.”
Thanks to Suryakumar’s heroics, India managed to post a competitive total. “It’s a good total, let’s see what happens now,” he concluded, expressing cautious optimism about the match’s outcome.