I try to find the gap, and use the field to my advantage: Suryakumar Yadav

For all the cynics out there who expressed doubts over Suryakumar Yadav continuing with the same blistering form in 2023, the man himself had a solid answer to dish out.

He had a silent start to the series but was soon on his way back to glory as he almost single-handedly toted India on his shoulders, ushering the Men in Blue to a remarkable fightback before falling short of the finish line in the second T20I. However, he carried the pain of missing out till that reckoning encounter in Rajkot, as he returned to his preceding intimidating form, wreaking absolute frenzy amongst the Lankan bowlers.

Awarded the Player of the Match for his crushing century, Surya opened up at length in the post-match awards show, revealing the strategy behind his unprecedented success. SKY said, “It is really important to put pressure on yourself when you are preparing for the game. The more pressure you put, the better you can play. There is a lot of hard work involved. Some quality practice sessions are also involved.”

He further revealed his approach to yesterday’s innings, stating, “The boundaries behind were 59-60m, so I tried to clear them. There are a few shots that are pre-determined but you have to be ready for other strokes as well. Most of the time, I try to find the gap, and use the field to my advantage, Dravid lets me enjoy it, and tells me to express myself.”

As India now moves to the longer format of the limited overs game, SKY will also be hoping to carry forward his impressive run. It will be interesting to witness how he changes the gears given the fact that the 50-over format demands a different approach.