India’s middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav is in tremendous form with the bat. He has been ruling the charts in 2022 in the shortest format of the game. After giving back-to-back amazing performances, including his batting heroics in the T20 World Cup 2022, Suryakumar Yadav is sitting atop the ICC’s T20I rankings, surpassing Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan.
He has already shattered many records in the shortest format of the game. And now after conquering the shortest format, SKY is all set to cement his place in the ODI side ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Meanwhile, India legend and former head coach Ravi Shastri recently showered praises on India’s sensational batter. Though, Shastri didn’t speak about SKY’s place in the World Cup squad, but he was in complete awe of his show in the 2nd ODI match against New Zealand.
Well, the 2nd ODI match of the ongoing 3-match ODI series in Hamilton was called off on Sunday due to rain just after 12.5 overs of the game. In those 12.5 overs of action, Suryakumar faced 25 balls scoring 34 runs which left everyone amazed, including Shastri. After the match, speaking to Prime Video Ravi Shastri hailed the Indian star as one of the most destructive batters in the world and compared him with the legendary South African batter AB de Villiers. He said:
“He is one of the best players in the world if not the best T20 player. He has got the all-round game and he is devastating. On his day, if he bats 30-40 balls, he’ll win you the match because he scores at that pace and he demoralizes the opposition with the kind of shots he plays. He is much like AB de Villiers at his best. When AB played one of those special innings, it deflated the opposition and Surya can do just that.”
Further, during the interaction, Shastri was asked about SKY’s performance in the 1st ODI, where he hailed failed to make an impace. Speaking about it, Shastri remained unfazed and said:
If you look at the numbers and law of averages, he is bound to have an innings like that. But if he gets past the 15-20-run mark, he makes it count as he showed in some of his earlier innings. So, he backs his ability and attacking instincts. So when you have those kinds of instincts, every odd inning, he is bound to fail. But when it comes off, it’s spectacular.”
