I just try and get runs off every ball: Suryakumar

10-ball 15 vs Pakistan, 25-ball 51* vs Netherlands, 40-ball 68 vs South Africa, 16-ball 30 vs Bangladesh, and 25-ball 61* vs Zimbabwe - Suryakumar Yadav has been in astonishing form for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia. The flamboyant right-hander has slammed 225 runs in five innings at an average of 75 and an unbelievable strike rate of 193.96 and is currently the third-highest run-getter in the tournament.

Speaking about his batting approach, the top-ranked T20I batter told R Ashwin on BCCI.TV: “I’ve been enjoying batting right now, doing all those things, what I do in practice sessions and what I practice in the last two years. So really happy with that. I only see the gaps, when I go to bat. And, I’ve been just enjoying bating. whenever I go inside, just in a completely different zone altogether."

The 32-year-old made his India debut in March 2021 and has already become arguably the best T20I batter in world cricket. He is a proper 360-degree player and very recently became the only India batter to score more than 1000 T20I runs in a calendar year. Suryakumar said he doesn’t have the fear of getting out and wants to score off every single delivery.

“I’ve succeeded a lot of times than failing while playing these shots. So the confidence is really high of playing those strokes. And I’ve been just going out. And just exploding that’s it. I mean, it’s I just try and play the format. It’s all about with what intent you go into bat and as I rightly said before, also, I just try and get runs off every ball. And if there’s an opportunity, then why not? Even if it’s the first ball, just grab it."

Talking about playing in Australia for the first time, Suryakumar said: "Everyone asked me only one question. You have never been to Australia. Bouncy fast tracks, big grounds. I’ve never played there. What is your preparations gonna be like? But I said the same thing. When I practice back home, I play at Wankhede. The bounce is really good. So the ground is not that quick, but the bounce is the same. They prepare good fast tracks for me over there. So I have practiced a lot over there. 

"And coming here I’ve always enjoyed bating on the big ground because I see those big, big pockets see the gap. I hit the gap and run hard if I’m under pressure or something like that. So I’ve always enjoyed batting on big ground and bounce I’ve always enjoyed bating, So it hasn’t been a problem for me till now and hopefully. I go against it."