In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 encounter against Afghanistan, Surya Kumar Yadav played a crucial role for India with a blistering innings of 53 runs off just 28 deliveries.

His knock was instrumental in guiding the Men in Blue to a competitive total of 181/8 at the Kensington Oval. Suryakumar showcased his mastery against a quality bowling attack, demonstrating a calculated approach amidst challenging conditions.

Suryakumar Yadav names the ‘Best Bowler in the World’

Following his impactful innings, Suryakumar lauded Rashid Khan as the best bowler in international cricket. He emphasized Rashid’s ability to make it difficult for batters to read him, highlighting the necessity of preemptive strategy against such formidable opponents. Suryakumar’s praise underscored Rashid’s pivotal role in shaping matches and the respect he commands across the cricketing world.

“I have told this before as well and I’ll say that again on air when he bowls, it’s very difficult to pick him so I know what shots I want to play when I’m inside. Best bowler in the world. You can’t let him dominate. You have to be a step ahead. But I am happy to be on a better side today,” said Suryakumar after the game.

India triumphs over Afghanistan in dominant display

Batting first, India faced early setbacks losing key wickets, but Suryakumar’s partnership with Hardik Pandya rejuvenated their innings.

Their crucial stand enabled India to post a competitive total of 181/8. In response, Afghanistan faltered against India’s bowling attack, particularly Jasprit Bumrah who dismantled their batting lineup with figures of 3-7. Eventually, Afghanistan were bowled out for 134 runs, securing India a convincing 47-run victory.

Delighted with his Player of the Match award, Suryakumar attributed his success to meticulous preparation and clarity in his game plan. He highlighted the team’s collective effort in achieving a challenging total, stressing the importance of proactive batting against Afghanistan’s bowling strengths.

Suryakumar’s tactical approach alongside Hardik Pandya was pivotal in steering India towards a crucial win in the tournament.
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“I think there’s a lot of hard work and practice gone behind this. And as I say again and again, there’s a lot of process and routines involved and when I go inside, when I play the game, I know I’m pretty clear in my mind what I want to do. Really happy with the way things went. And yeah, the first batter to get better of the match, hopefully the first of many. I still remember when Hardik came into bat, I told him the same thing. Let’s keep back with the same intent. Let’s not leave too much to the end because in the end, it was definitely going to be a difficult thing to do with the ball getting old, reversing and all. So, I said let’s keep pressing the pedal and see where we get in the end of 16 overs. But yeah, very happy with the way we got 180 on the board,” he added.