Suryakumar Yadav has admitted that his fortunes have taken a turn for the good ever since he started representing Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL. The 30-year-old made his ODI debut in the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka and was named man of the series for registering scores of 31 not out, 53, and 40 in the three-match series.
India went down to Sri Lanka by three wickets (D/L method) in the final ODI in Colombo but clinched the series 2-1. At a post-match conference, Suryakumar Yadav said that he became a more mature cricketer after he started playing for Mumbai Indians.
Suryakumar Yadav: Things Changed After Representing Mumbai Indians From 2018
His sensational run for Mumbai Indians in the IPL earned him a spot in the England T20I series at home. With 512 runs in the 2018 season, followed by 424 runs in 2019 and 480 runs in 2020, the conversation around the Mumbai batsman shifted to the prospects of him doing the same for Men in Blue.
It took until the fourth T20I in the five-match series against England earlier this year for him to get a chance to bat in international cricket, where an instant impact was made. His 31-ball 57, consisting of six fours and three sixes, bore an uncanny resemblance to what he regularly pulled off for his IPL franchise. He did it again just two days later with a 17-ball 32 in the fifth T20I.
“I have always been batting the same that I am batting right now. After I came to Mumbai Indians in 2018, things started changing a bit. I got to know what my responsibility is. How to go about my game and how can I take it one step ahead. That’s when I started practicing even more. I talked to all the players who knew me really well since the last 5-6 years. I am happy with the way things are going.”
Speaking about his bold stroke play, Suryakumar Yadav stated that playing cricket in Mumbai has taught him a lot and made him tougher as a batsman.
“Talking about the strokes, I have been a Mumbai boy. So, whenever you grow up in Mumbai, the types of cricket you get over there, club games and domestic cricket, they are very challenging.
“There, automatically I have to think what strokes I have to play on that kind of wickets. The same thing I have carried on to the international stage as well. I will be doing the same things, just try to keep things simple and follow my routine.”
Suryakumar Yadav returned to Mumbai Indians for the 11th season of the IPL in 2018 and made a splash. Bought for INR 3.2 crore, the Mumbai batsman used his ample knowledge of the Wankhede Stadium pitch and made full use of the opportunities given to him.
In a season where they failed to qualify for the playoffs, Suryakumar Yadav shone with his performances at the top of the order. Asked to open the batting, Suryakumar Yadav excelled in his role and scored over 500 runs in 2018, including four fifties.
Suryakumar Yadav: It’s A Dream Representing India
Suryakumar Yadav made his international debut in the home series against England after what seemed like a never-ending wait. Asked if he feels he belongs at the international level now, the cricketer replied that it’s a dream to represent India.
“Obviously, it’s a dream playing for India. There has been a lot of effort, pride and patience behind this. It has been worth the wait and I am really happy about it. From now on, how I build it, it is all in my hands. And I am really excited for the journey ahead.”
Suryakumar Yadav has so far featured in 3 ODIs and as many T20Is and has scored 124 and 89 runs respectively. The 30-year-old from Mumbai clinched the man of the series award for amassing 124 runs with the highest score of 53 in his debut ODI series against Sri Lanka.