Ramiz Raja, former Pakistan cricketer-turned-commentator has heaped praise on Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav who played a fantastic knock in the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
The Mumbai batsman scored his second fifty in the shortest format of the game in 33 balls before losing his wicket to Dushmantha Chameera in the 16th over. His innings were laced with a couple of sixes and five boundaries.
Ramiz Raja on Suryakumar Yadav:
As India lost two early wickets after batting first, Suryakumar Yadav teamed up with captain Shikhar Dhawan to accelerate the Indian innings with a 62 run-stand for the third wicket. The visitors set a 165-run target but the hosts were bowled out for 126 in 18.3 overs. India won the game by 38 runs to lead the series 1-0.
Impressed with Suryakumar Yadav’s batting, Ramiz Raja hailed his ability to keep playing fearlessly despite conditions being tough for batting. Suryakumar Yadav starred once again with the bat for India in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, scoring a quickfire 50 off 34 balls.
“Suryakumar Yadav played a brilliant inning. It doesn’t seem that he is playing his first season for India because he has almost instantly announced himself on the international stage. To bat with a certain tempo and to improvise without taking risks is really difficult. Be it a slower bowl, or a Yorker or a bouncer – nothing can harm him as he has a lot of options to attack.”
With injuries to key players in the Indian camp in England, the BCCIhas decided to send Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav to the UK as replacements for injured batsman Shubman Gill in the Test squad.
After a memorable T20I debut, versus England early this year, Suryakumar Yadav has once again proved his potential in the ongoing India tour of Sri Lanka. In the three ODIs, he returned with scores of unbeaten 31, 53, and 40 to be adjudged the Player-of-the-Series for his consistency.
Ramiz Raja: Suryakumar Yadav Takes Chances With Lesser Risk And Is Temperamentally Strong
Ramiz Raja further spoke about Suryakumar Yadav’s temperament and praised him for playing different kinds of shots to nullify the opposition’s bowling attack.
“He is temperamentally strong. He scored fifty off 34 balls which isn’t easy at all, especially when the conditions are tough to bat on. He played top-quality innings. He has consistency as well. To maintain consistency in white-ball cricket is very tough because you need to take chances,” he added.
“Suryakumar takes chances with lesser risk. He has an array of shots – he smashes out of the park for a six and also plays grounded shots. He is surely a great find,” Raja said further.
Having made his first-class debut in 2010, Suryakumar Yadav has played 77 matches in which he has scored 5326 runs at an average of 44.01. His figures include 14 hundred and 26 fifties. Suryakumar Yadav has played 3 ODIs where he amassed 124 runs averaging 62 and 4 T20Is where he amassed 139 runs averaging 46.33.