3 min learnFeb 8, 2026 12:08 AM IST
India have been in all types of strife towards minnows USA with a surprised crowd on the Wankhede Stadium trying on when Suryakumar Yadav hunkered down on Saturday. Hardik Pandya, whose big-hitting had reached superhuman ranges within the run-up to the T20 World Cup, was the most recent to have fallen and India had scored simply 77 runs on the time for the lack of six wickets of their opening match of the match.
Nonetheless, captain Suryakumar, who was trying a shadow of his belligerent self all through final yr, caught round and miraculously shifted gears to take his aspect to 161/9 in 20 overs. Suryakumar completed unbeaten on 84 off 49 balls – he was on 21 off 22 when Pandya had fallen within the thirteenth over. India ultimately received the match by 29 runs.
“I by no means felt that it was a 180-190 wicket. I felt it was a 140 wicket,” mentioned Suryakumar within the post-match presentation ceremony. He mentioned that head coach Gautam Gambhir was of the identical opinion.
“Gauti bhai instructed me the identical factor throughout the break after the 14 overs. He instructed me, simply attempt to bat until the tip, you possibly can cowl it any time.”
The Wankhede is dwelling for Suryakumar, who performs home cricket and the IPL in Mumbai. He mentioned that the expertise of a lifetime of enjoying within the metropolis additionally helped. “I’ve performed a number of my cricket in Bombay, this wicket and in addition maidans of Mumbai cricket. So I understand how to bat on comparable form of wickets,” he mentioned.
“You needed to perceive that one batter needed to bat until the tip. I simply stored counting who was about to bowl at the moment and checked on what number of balls have been left and I used to be simply making an attempt to play good photographs and my photographs.”
It’s a continuation of a outstanding turnaround in type for Suryakumar. He had scored simply 218 runs in 19 innings this yr at a paltry common of 13.62 and strike price of 123.16 with no half-centuries to his title. Nonetheless, he began the brand new yr with two blistering half-centuries in India’s five-match T20I collection towards New Zealand.
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“Final complete yr, I used to be making an attempt to bat in such a means, maintain the innings for the staff, nevertheless it wasn’t taking place. However then I left it alone after I performed the final collection of final yr towards South Africa. Packed my package bag, spent a number of time with household for 2 weeks. Then began within the new yr and once we went to Nagpur, it was a special feeling altogether,” mentioned Suryakumar.