The top batsman for the Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar Yadav, reminisced about a memorable IPL 2020 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The seasoned batter talked candidly about the inner torment he endured after being left out of India’s tour of Australia and how he turned that suffering into a hit that won the game.
Having been in outstanding form during the domestic season and the IPL, Yadav said that the non-selection was very painful for him. After spending the COVID-19 break working on his physical and mental preparation, he was taken aback and moved by the omission.
Because the team for the Australia tour had only been announced a few days prior, it was an emotional blow. My domestic season and IPL were going pretty well, so I had been preparing for this for a few years. I even spent the COVID break working on my physical and emotional well-being because I had adequately prepared myself for this season.
Suryakumar Yadav told Star Sports, “I therefore anticipated being in the T20 squad.”
When Mumbai most needed him, he delivered a strong innings in spite of the loss. The right-handed batsman entered the game at number three and produced one of his most memorable innings, slamming 10 fours and three sixes with a strike rate of 183.72 while chasing a target of 165 against RCB. He scored an undefeated 79 off just 43 balls.
With five balls and five wickets remaining, his strategy made sure the team crossed the finish line. There was also a well-known exchange between Virat Kohli and Yadav during the game. Yadav disclosed that after his India debut, Kohli granted him the No. 3 spot in the T20I squad, despite the fact that the two did not talk following the game.
“My international teammates and everyone else around me assumed I would be travelling to Australia via plane. However, it really affected me when I wasn’t chosen. What went wrong was beyond my comprehension. For two or three days after that, I didn’t talk to anyone. I didn’t practise at all over my break. I chose to relax because I knew my thoughts weren’t in the appropriate place. Mahela and Zaheer could also see that I was off when I hit the ground again,” he continued.
Since that memorable evening in Abu Dhabi, Suryakumar has emerged as one of the game’s top hitters in the shortest format. With four hundreds, more than 2500 international runs, and the top spot in the World T20I batting rankings, the 33-year-old has revolutionised the way that T20 cricket is played today. As the captain of India’s T20I team, he just scored 4000 runs in the IPL.
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