Robin Uthappa feels that versatile Suryakumar Yadav can bat at the No. 4 or No. 5 position and support Rishabh Pant in finishing the innings. According to Robin Uthappa, Suryakumar Yadav’s versatility is his biggest asset as he can bat anywhere, according to the former opener.
Suryakumar Yadav batted at the No. 3 spot in the first T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand in Jaipur on Wednesday. The 31-year-old middle-order batsman was the Player of the Match for his 40-ball 62 as India went 1-0 up with a five-wicket triumph against the visitors.
Robin Uthappa: Versatile Suryakumar Yadav Can Move Up And Down The Batting Order If Needed
Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s success at the one-down position, Robin Uthappa believes he will be more useful to India at four or five positions once Virat Kohli, who is resting in the T20I series, is back on the T20I side.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter explained: “The guy brings in a sense of versatility. He can move up and down the batting order. Surya gets in there and gets going. The array of shots that he has got makes him a dangerous batter at any position. He can bat at 4-5 so that Pant has got some support to finish games.”
At a post-match interaction following India’s win over New Zealand in the first T20I, Suryakumar Yadav himself stated that he doesn’t have any preferred position and is willing to bat anywhere for the team. The right-hander’s half-century saw India chase down a target of 165 with two balls to spare. Following Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal, Rishabh Pant (17*) guided the team to victory.
Daniel Vettori: Suryakumar Yadav Has Set Himself Aside From The Rest
Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori echoed Robin Uthappa’s sentiments on Suryakumar Yadav. According to the Kiwi great, the 31-year-old has made his opportunities count and should feature in the Indian T20I squad on a consistent basis.
Daniel Vettori opined: “With the kind of performances he has come up with, Suryakumar has set himself aside from the rest of the pack. He could be the guy to bat 4-5 to complement the Top 3. He is confident from the time he goes out to bat and it just suits T20 cricket.”
In nine T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav has scored 243 runs at a strike rate of 160.92 with three half-centuries. He averages 48.6 in T20Is and 62 in 3 ODIs, where he has 124 runs.
In the last three IPL seasons, he has been brilliant with the bat. In the 2018 edition of the tournament, he scored 512 runs in 14 games, a commendable effort for someone who plays as a middle-order batsman. In 2019 and 2020, he played a crucial part in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) victorious runs. While he amassed 424 runs in IPL 2019, he upped his game in IPL 2020.
The Mumbaikar scored 480 runs in 16 games averaging 40 at an impressive strike rate of 145 in IPL 2020, which was hailed by fans who felt disappointed when his name wasn’t in the Australian tour’s limited-overs squad. He amassed 317 runs in 14 games, averaging 22.64 in IPL 2021 as his team, Mumbai Indians, failed to qualify.