Suryakumar Yadav, the Mumbai Indians (MI) batter said that he will have to put in some quality effort as his team faces Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 8, 2023, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the ongoing IPL 2023.
Suryakumar has been struggling in recent times as he came into the IPL 2023 with three consecutive first-ball ducks in the three ODIs between India and Australia.
Suryakumar Yadav, who is enduring a rare dip in form, said that he has to put in “quality efforts” in the match against CSK. The 32-year-old compared the feeling of returning to the Wankhede to the emotion of returning to one’s home.
“When I returned to Mumbai Indians in 2018, it felt like a homecoming where everybody greets you. I got that same feeling. The first time I came to the ground, it was a very different feeling. Obviously when you come to any stadium you feel great. You imagine playing at the stadium, the feeling you get when you make runs and play shots at the stadium is a very different feeling,” Suryakumar said on MI TV.
Even in the first game for MI, against Royal Challengers Banglore (RCB) in Bengaluru, Suryakumar managed 15 runs, as MI lost to RCB by eight wickets.
When The Stadium Was Made, I Was A Regular Here: Suryakumar Yadav On Playing In Wankhede Stadium
Suryakumar also narrated one of his early memories of playing at the iconic stadium. From age-group to domestics to IPL, Suryakumar has stepped onto the Wankhede pitch several times.
“When the stadium was made, I was a regular here. I played domestic matches, age-group matches and then came the IPL. I was at MI from 2011 to 2013. In 2018, I was reunited with the franchise after a short break.
After entering the stadium, I felt really special again and I thought I will have to work very hard if I have to play consistently in front of this amazing crowd at this beautiful stadium. I’ll have to put in quality efforts and I have been working hard since then and have never looked back,” Suryakumar said.
The right-hander has scored 457 runs at an average of 30.46 for MI at the Wankhede.