India overcame Zimbabwe by an enormous margin of 71 runs to get to the T20 World Cup semifinals. The majority of the credit for the Men in Blue’s 186 runs when batting first belongs to none other than Suryakumar Yadav, who hammered 61 off 25 balls to swing the game in Team India’s favor. After his spectacular knock, the entire cricketing community, including analysts and fans, chanted praises.
Virender Sehwag also sent his best wishes in his distinctive manner.
Suryakumar Yadav has received accolades from legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag for his ability to strike the ball where he wants on any side of the wicket and also for doing so in a very poetic manner.
The former opener said, “Wherever he wants to direct his shot, even if it’s not the right ball for that, he will make it reach there.”
Sehwag said. “He can guide an off stump wide over the wicketkeeper to fine leg for a six. Such shots are next to impossible. But it’s Suryakumar, so it’s possible.”
He added, “If he wants to smack it to the covers, it’s Suryakumar, so it’s possible. If it needs to be launched over the bowler, it’s Suryakumar, so it’s possible.”
When Suryakumar Yadav entered the batting order, the Men in Blue had just seen their in-form Virat Kohli get out for 26. He was the non-hand striker when Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul left the field in rapid succession, and India lost 3 wickets for just 14 runs after KL Rahul and Virat Kohli’s 60-run partnership for the second wicket. In an innings that featured six fours and four sixes, he hammered 61 from 25 balls, hitting the Zimbabwean bowlers on all sides of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
By this inning, Suryakumar Yadav also passed 1,000 T20I runs in a single calendar year, becoming the first Indian and second hitter overall to do so. In addition, when he reached fifty in 23 balls, he did so for the fourth-fastest time in T20 World Cup history for an Indian.
