Hard-hitting batter Suryakumar Yadav said he is flexible enough to bat anywhere in the Indian T20 team, having turned out for the Men in Blue in various roles, including opening the innings.
Suryakumar scored a scintillating 26-ball 68 not out to pave the way for India’s 40-run win over Hong Kong and sail into the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.
On a two-paced wicket, Suryakumar, who came in to bat at number 4, played a wide range of shots which included six sixes and as many fours.
“I am flexible to bat at any number, wherever you tell me. I have told the coach and captain to send me at any number but just play me,” Suryakumar said at the post match press conference.
Vice-captain KL Rahul, who is coming off an injury, has looked completely out of sorts in the tournament. Against Hong Kong, he struggled to score a 39-ball 36.
“So you are saying we should not play KL bhai (Rahul)?” he said when asked if he would open the innings with Rohit Sharma.
“He is coming after an injury and he needs some time now, we have time right now,” he added.
With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, India are continuing to experiment in a bid to find out the best batting combination.
“Things will go on, there are lot of things we are trying and experimenting. There are things that we want to do and it’s better to try those things in matches rather than in practice sessions.” India had a woeful start after being sent to bat first with Rahul and Rohit failing to covert their starts, while Virat Kohli scored a 44-ball 59 not out.
“It is a challenge to bat first. We are working on that exactly, like what sort of target we need to set while batting first, that’s what we are trying to get right.
“Today as well, we were trying to do that, once we started batting first, what total should it be, what tempo and how to finish. Who are the batsmen left (to come in), what will be their role, it was very clear for us.” “So, if I couldn’t accomplish that role, then obviously the next one, Rishab (Pant) would have done, if not DK (Dinesh Karthik) he would have done and then we had Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), even he was there to do that ...so we have enough firepower to put up whatever we need to in the first innings, it will get done.” Suryakumar changed the complexion of the game with his 360 degree hitting.
“The situation was such that I had to go and bat out in the middle the way I did. At the start the wicket was a bit slow.
“Once I got in and after a chat with Virat, he told me just express yourself, bat the way you usually bat. My plans were absolutely clear on the way to bat...and I really enjoyed it.”
Bowing down was a heartwarming gesture from Virat Kohli: Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav was left humbled by the heartwarming gesture from Virat Kohli who doffed his hat to his compatriot following his sensational knock in the Asia Cup in Dubai.
His sensational 28-ball 68-run innings overshadow the 44-ball 59 innings by Kohli, who bowed to Suryakumar in appreciation and also looked towards the dressing room, saying 'kya hai yeh' (what is this man?) after the Indian innings.
"It was a heartwarming gesture from Virat Kohli. I have never experienced it. I was wondering why he wasn't walking ahead and then when I realised, I asked him to walk together. He is much more experienced than me," Suryakumar said in the post-match press conference.
Suryakumar added 98 runs with Kohli to lift India to 192 for two.
"I enjoyed a lot batting with him. We were talking a lot how to go about in the next few balls. He is such an experienced and I haven't played many T20Is. So having the experience at that stage in the middle was crucial."
Put in to bat, openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul failed to convert their starts but Kohli held the innings together, scoring his first international half-century in more than six months.
However, it was Suryakumar, who provided the much-needed impetus in the back-10 as he reached his fifty in just 22 balls.
"The situation was such that I had to go to the crease and play fast. Because the wicket was a little slow in the starting, I talked to Virat Kohli, he said 'just express yourself and do as you bat’. My plan was also very clear on how to bat so it was fun."
With the second successive win, India became the second team to qualify for the Super four.
