On Thursday, June 20, Suryakumar Yadav played a pivotal role in lifting India to a competitive total against Afghanistan in their Super 8s clash at the T20 World Cup 2024. Batting first, India found themselves in a precarious position after losing early wickets. Captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed inside the powerplay, and while Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli got off to promising starts, they couldn’t convert them into substantial scores.
Shivam Dube also struggled, leaving India reeling at 90 for 4 in the 11th over. However, Suryakumar Yadav rose to the occasion with a brilliant fifty, his second consecutive half-century in the tournament. He scored a quickfire 53 runs off 28 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Notably, Suryakumar didn’t hesitate to take on Afghanistan’s ace bowler, Rashid Khan, who had already dismissed both Pant and Kohli. Using his signature sweep shot, Suryakumar managed to hit Rashid for two fours and a six, asserting his dominance in the middle overs.
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The on-field battle between Suryakumar and Rashid Khan was highlighted by a lighthearted exchange. Rashid, after being hit for boundaries, playfully grabbed Suryakumar’s helmet during their chat, showcasing the sportsmanship and camaraderie between the players. “Stop sweeping me,” was the message that commentator Ravi Shastri humorously interpreted Rashid as conveying to Suryakumar.
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At the end of India’s innings, Suryakumar Yadav shared insights into his approach to batting, particularly in the challenging middle overs. He emphasized his enjoyment of batting during this phase, known for being a critical period where bowlers 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,” said Suryakumar.
WATCH – Rashid Khan Traps Virat Kohli In Crucial T20 World Cup Clash
Reflecting on his mindset after Kohli’s dismissal, he 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.”
With Suryakumar’s heroics, India managed to post a challenging total. “It’s a good total, let’s see what happens now,” Suryakumar concluded, expressing cautious optimism about the match’s outcome.
