Suryakumar Yadav lavishes praise on Ishan Kishan’s knock saying that ‘This is what we want from out batters’.
Suryakumar on Kishan’s counterattack: ‘This is what we want from batters’.
India easily defeated New Zealand in the second Twenty20 International in Raipur with 28 balls remaining after going 6 for 2 in a chase of 209. Suryakumar Yadav, who smashed an undefeated 82 off 37 balls, was full of admiration for Ishan Kishan, the man who ignited India’s comeback with a barnstorming 76 off 32, in this display of contemporary T20 batting.
“I didn’t know what Ishan had in the afternoon for lunch or what pre-workout he had before the game, but I have never seen anyone bat [like that],” Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation. “At 6 for 2, batting that way, ending the powerplay around 67, 70 [75 for 2], I think it was incredible.
“I think this is what we want from batters going out there, to express themselves, be happy in their own space, and that’s what he did today.”
In a third-wicket partnership of 122 off 49 balls, Kishan did all the early running. Suryakumar was batting on 19 off 13 when the century partnership occurred in the ninth over.
“I was angry he didn’t give me strike in the powerplay, but that’s okay,” Suryakumar joked. “I had some time, played 8 balls, 10 balls, and I knew later on when I have time, then I can cover it up [make up the scoring rate].”
A stretch of 23 T20I innings without a fifty was interrupted by Suryakumar’s effort. He reiterated what he had said many times during this drought, which was that he had been out of runs but not necessarily out of form. However, he claimed that he had benefited from the break he had taken between the start of this series on January 21 and the T20I series against South Africa, which concluded on December 19, with only two domestic List A games for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 6 and 8.
“As I said before also, I was batting really well in the nets, and everything which I did back home in the last 2 or 3 weeks [helped], I got a good break to spend time with my family, my friends,” Suryakumar said. “I think I had good practice sessions as well, and I think I’m enjoying what’s happening right now.”