India’s rookie batter Suryakumar Yadav has heaped praise on the team’s former T20I skipper Virat Kohli.
Yadav made his T20I debut against England earlier in the year and Kohli demoted himself at number four to give a chance to the debutant at number three.
Subsequently, SKY was able to grab his chance with both hands as he scored a fine fifty on his debut. In fact, Yadav was able to hit the ground running as he smashed Jofra Archer for a six on the first ball he faced.
Similarly, during the T20 World Cup match against Namibia, which was Kohli’s last game as T20I captain for the national team, the Indian skipper promoted Suryakumar Yadav to one down as the right-hander had not batted a lot in the T20I showpiece.
Yadav could not play against New Zealand due to a back spasm. Thus, Kohli wanted to give World Cup game time to Suryakumar Yadav as it was his first major ICC event.
“I was really disappointed when I missed the New Zealand game with back spasms. I wanted to make a mark in the T20 World Cup so it was nice of him. I still remember when I made my batting debut, he was the one who sacrificed his position and let me go at No. 3 when I played against England and he batted at 4. It was the same thing. He asked whether I want to go in so that I get some World Cup game time. It was really nice of him and I enjoyed coming back not out in that game,” said Yadav in the post-match press conference.
On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav played a match-winning knock of 62 runs off just 40 balls in the first T20I at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Wednesday. Ergo, the right-hander played a key role in taking India over the line in the run-chase of 165 runs. Yadav added that he wants to enjoy his game as he is ready to bat anywhere in the batting order.
“It’s not like I want to bat at any specific position. I am happy to bat anywhere. I have been batting at the No. 3 position for my franchise for the last three years so it was nothing different for me. I just go out and express myself, the way I do in the nets. I have followed the same process for the last 2-3 years. I don’t try and do anything different. I just want to go out and enjoy myself,” concluded Yadav.
The second T20I between India and New Zealand will take place in Ranchi on Friday.
