Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has applauded Suryakumar Yadav for his stunning rise as a T20I batter. While talking about his progress in the format, Manjrekar recalled that there was time when he seemed to have only two shots as well. However, Suryakumar made a T20I debut against England in Ahmedabad in March 2021 and established himself in the national team and has now played 81 T20Is,where he has smashed 2,596 runs at an average of 39.33 and a strike rate of 167.70, with four centuries and 21 fifties as well.

Speaking on Deep Point on Star Sports, Manjrekar said (as quoted by Times of India): “This has taken a lot of time; it didn’t happen in just two years. He used to play for KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), and I remember he had just two shots. Predictably, he would play the flick shot on the first ball of the innings, no matter where it landed. The growth of Suryakumar Yadav is incredible. Who would have predicted, when he was playing lower down the order for KKR, that he would go on to become the best T20I batter in the world?”

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“The method to this madness is proactiveness. It takes a lot of imagination, courage, and the ability to anticipate where the ball is coming from before it’s even bowled-that’s his hallmark.”During the Asia Cup, we analyzed how, when bowlers try to adjust their deliveries after Surya gets into position, he still has another option to punish them. That’s his special ability. There are many players who can hit across 360 degrees, but his ability to abandon his plan and react to a delivery is amazing,” he concluded.

Notably, Suryakumar Yadav smashed 57 off 31 balls tin a T20I against England.