India batsman Suryakumar Yadav spoke about his reaction after the first batsman Virat Kohli got out in the game against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. He said that after the first batsman got out, he started chewing gum with more strength.
Suryakumar Yadav was one of the bright lights of the Indian team in the match against Afghanistan. After the team lost the first few wickets, it looked like they would struggle to post the win total on the board. But the batsman produced a superlative effort with the bat at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval.
On a pitch, where most batsmen were struggling to get going, Suryakumar Yadav seemed to be batting on a different surface. The batsman batted with an aggressive mindset and played some brilliant knocks that made many stand up and applaud him.
Suryakumar Yadav gave up the bat after India lost Virat Kohli. He seemed unfazed by the game situation and played a magnificent innings. In the end, it was he who proved to be the difference between both teams at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Suryakumar Yadav finished with 53 innings off 28 balls. He batted at a strike rate of around 190 and also hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in his innings. His knock propelled India to a total of 181 runs and they subsequently won the game by 47 runs.
Suryakumar Yadav spoke about his innings and said that he practiced a lot before the game and also stated that he enjoyed batting from overs 7-15 and took the attack to the bowlers. In statements to the stations, he explained:
“That’s what I have practiced and I did a lot of match simulations for that. I enjoy batting from overs 7-15 because that is the most difficult phase where the other team tries to control the game. I like to take charge in that phase, enjoy it.”
Suryakumar Yadav was asked what was going through his mind when Kohli holed out in the ninth over. Responding to this, he stated:
“I started chewing gum even harder when he (Kohli) came out. I knew I had played this phase before. I just backed my game and my instincts. The most important thing is that the intention had to be good that time.”
I have played a lot of cricket with him (Rohit) and now under him he understands my game – Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav was also asked about Rohit Sharma’s comment that he had to improve his game as a senior batsman. Responding to this, he stated that this motivates him more. He also spoke about his on-field camaraderie with the Indian captain and stated:
“Obviously it’s a motivation. I’ve played a lot of cricket with him (Rohit) and now under him he understands my game. When there are ups and downs in my cricket, he doesn’t say anything to me because he knows my game. He just sits back and enjoys it,” he concluded.
