India’s talisman batsman Virat Kohli was full of praise for Suryakumar Yadav after the latter scored a match-winning knock of 69 runs off just 36 balls in the third T20I against Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium while they were chasing 187 runs.
India went on to clinch the series by 2-1 and Suryakumar Yadav played a key role in the team’s win. Yadav was able to hit the ground running as he batted at the top of his game. The 32-year-old batter found the gaps to perfection as he successfully threaded the field.
Yadav has an array of shots and he knows how to play according to the match situation. Kohli and Yadav added a fine alliance of 104 runs off just 62 balls as they got India back into the contest after they lost early wickets of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.
Kohli had the best seat in the house as Yadav oozed an exhibition of brilliant shots all around the ground to score his runs at a brisk pace. Yadav scored a total of 115 runs in the three matches of the series at an average of 38.33 and a strike rate of 185.48.
Virat Kohli said while talking to the broadcasters after the match, “Absolute clarity in what SKY wants to do. He has the game to bat under any sort of situation and any condition. He has shown that already. He got a hundred in England, he batted beautifully in the Asia Cup. Here, he’s striking the ball as well as I have seen him strike. For the past 6 months, he’s been outstanding. It’s the array of shots and to play those shots at the right time is such a tremendous skill. He’s a guy who knows his game inside out. He’s got the gift of timing and I was in awe watching him play his shots.”
On the other hand, Virat Kohli scored a fine knock of 63 runs off just 48 balls and played a key role in helping the team in getting close to the target. Kohli has returned back to form and it is a big positive for the side before the T20 World Cup.
Kohli added, “I kind of made up my mind to go after him (Adam Zampa) today. He’s a quality bowler and he tries to control my scoring rate whenever we play and I knew that he was going to attack the stumps, so I was standing outside leg already. Last game I was a bit disappointed that after hitting him for a four, I went for a double rather than hitting him for a six. I’m making a conscious effort to strike those big ones through the middle overs so that it can help the team situation. The game shouldn’t have gone on that long, we should have probably had 4 or 5 to chase in the final over. It was important to maintain my composure and get one boundary (on that first-ball six in the 20th over). I’m happy with my contribution to the team, I took a break, went back to the nets, worked hard on my fitness and think it’s coming off well. I want to keep contributing and doing my best for the team.”
India will next take on South Africa in the home limited-overs series.
