India’s flamboyant batter Suryakumar Yadav said he was very happy to receive praises from the likes of Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar after his whirlwind century in the 2nd of a 3-match T20I series against New Zealand on Sunday. Suryakumar enthralled cricket fans in Mount Maunganui with a flabbergasting century — 111 not out in just 51 balls as India clinched a 65-run win over Kane Williamson’s men.
Suryakumar Yadav, speaking to Yuzvendra Chahal for the BCCI, responded to a specific tweet from Virat Kohli, who was left awestruck by the India batter’s shot-making ability on Sunday. Kohli took to Twitter and said he was not able to watch the innings live on TV but that he was sure it would feel like another “video game knock”, referring to the ease with which Suryakumar has been dealing with opposition bowlers.
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Suryakumar Yadav said there is no cheat code to his batting as he explained, “It feels very good when everybody messages me and tweets about me. I learned a lot from Sachin Tendulkar when we played franchise cricket. I have been enjoying my time with Virat Kohli recently. But, I want to say that there is no cheat code. I do what I have practiced in the nets. I don’t want to change anything. I want to play this format with the right intent, it’s very important.”
Numero Uno showing why he's the best in the world. Didn't watch it live but I'm sure this was another video game innings by him. 😂 @surya_14kumar
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 20, 2022
From receiving appreciation from the likes of @sachin_rt & @imVkohli to answering the question of one lucky fan 🙌🏻 #NZvIND | @yuzi_chahal
The latest episode of Chahal TV features centurion @Surya_14kumar 😎 – By @ameyatilak
Full interview🔽https://t.co/Q1VRn7xrVW pic.twitter.com/dRNWJZJZh4
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 21, 2022
Not a single New Zealand bowler managed to put brake on Suryakumar Yadav, who raced to his hundred in just 49 balls. The Bay Oval pitch was a two-paced one but Suryakumar manipulated the field with precision and left the New Zealand attack frustrated.
Shedding light on his thought process in T20I cricket, Suryakumar Yadav said: “I want to play with the right intent, I don’t want to think much in the middle. Thinking will happen in the room and the practice sessions. You can’t come here and think. You can’t take the pressure, you have to try and enjoy. The percentage of fear of failure should be less and I don’t carry any baggage.”
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Suryakumar also interacted with a fan who had turned up to support the men in blue at the Bay Oval on Sunday. When the fan asked him about his “Mr. 360” tag, the Mumbai Indians batter politely played it down, saying only AB de Villiers can be called so in world cricket.
The no.1 T20 batter replied, “There is only one Mr. 360 in the world. I haven’t had the opportunity to play against him. But I have had a lot of chats with him. I want to continue what I am doing and I want to be the next Suryakumar Yadav.”
