NEWS
Follow UsAt 31/2 in 3.2 overs, Mumbai Indians (MI) were in a spot of bother against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). They couldn’t have asked anyone better than Suryakumar Yadav to arrest the collapse and take the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners home in one of the toughest conditions this year at the Wankhede Stadium.
When Suryakumar walked out to bat, the ball was moving hoops and making it tough for the batter. It was well evident in the first ten balls that he faced, with 50% of them being false shots. But the moment the right-hander got a six off Pat Cummins’ bowling, he was up and running.
The 33-year-old found gaps that one could only imagine and struck the ball so sweetly on a wicket that others found challenging. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the talent, then perhaps nothing would. In the post-match press conference, MI’s batting coach, Kieron Pollard, applauded Suryakumar’s blitz.
“I think his (Suryakumar) knock is phenomenal, he played the conditions, and it was a tricky situation when he walked out to bat, the ball was moving and nipping around a bit. He got beaten a few times, but he held his nerve, that kind of discipline is what we ask, and then he got comfortable,” Pollard said in the post-match press conference.
In particular, the Mumbaikar was brutal against South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, scoring 32 runs off his bowling at a strike rate of 355.56. But this aggression only came after he had assessed the conditions at the Wankhede Stadium, after which he went on to score a 51-ball 102, laced with 12 fours and six sixes.
"He's one, by nature, instinctively very aggressive. So he wants to take the bowlers on more often than not. At times it's just a matter of understanding the situation and respecting the new ball when it's moving around, and the conditions are not suitable for certain kind of shot-making. We have that discipline in order to be there for a period of time and then get into your work,” Pollard added.
It is quite rare that one player gets applauded by both sets of camps. Suryakumar’s knock was such that even SRH’s assistant coach, Simon Helmot, couldn’t help but applaud.
“We saw a special hundred by Suryakumar Yadav tonight. It is very difficult; you guys have seen him closer than I have. It is very difficult to match up when he is in that frame of mind. He was a little fortunate with the back of a bat hit towards the third-man region for a six," Helmot said.
“But that still went a long way back, he was in complete control. We did our best to mix things up, but he was just too good. Some days, you have to tip your hat and say well played,” he added.
With the T20 World Cup around the corner, Suryakumar’s form was a little concerning for the Indian fans. However, Helmot was clear that the 33-year-old would have a great influence on the World Cup.
“I think he’s an exceptional cricketer. He will have a great influence on the World Cup for India,” Helmot was in all praise for SKY.
During the early stages of the IPL, the conditions were quite batter-friendly. But over the last few days, a 200+ score has been a rare occurrence. Helmot weighed in on that debate, stating that the tournament offers different situations and conditions, and MI’s run chase was only possible due to Suryakumar’s insane talent.
“We are seeing that IPL presents all different conditions, and in different situations, it isn’t always going to 250+ scores. Obviously, it became easy because one player played quite an exceptional innings on a tricky surface. That probably shows the talent of SKY, and what he can do to the opposition if you can’t get him out early.”
