In the first game itself, India had a reality check in their defense of the T20 World Cup. The USA delivered some serious threats when India was batting in the first innings. However, Suryakumar Yadav was as measured and composed as anyone can be. He saw them home in the opening match.
Suryakumar ensured that the initial blows by the team USA didn’t affect the team too much. It could’ve turned catastrophic for India had he not been careful. He managed to get India to a decent score by the end of the first innings. It was an innings of a lifetime for Surya, given the match situation India was in. He made 84 runs off just 49 balls.
Here is what he said about the innings after the game. “I have played a lot of my cricket in Bombay (Mumbai), on this wicket and also on the maidans of the city. So I know how to bat on similar kinds of wickets. I have played a lot of cricket here at Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan. So I knew that if I batted till the end, I could make a difference.”
Yes, he did make a difference in the end. However, it was not as straightforward as one might think. The Indian team was given an early shock that the Wankhede pitch was not like how it usually is. In the last T20 match, the Wankhede pitch was a breeze to bat on. The conditions called for caution, and Surya did exactly that. The Indian team was four down for 46 runs. So, the damage was done before anyone could do anything about it.
At the start, he was watchful of the good balls. He ensured that there was no mishap of epic proportions for India. He was determined to take India to a safe total in the end.
“I always felt that there was a need for a batter to bat till the end. I never felt that it was a 180-190 wicket. I felt it was a 140 wicket. Gauti bhai told me the same thing during the break after 14 overs. He told me, ‘Just try and bat till the end; you can cover it any time’.”
The pitch was difficult to bat on due to the moisture underneath. The ball was gripping and stopping; it was hard to time the ball. However, Surya was determined to play as long as possible to help India. He played the field and found gaps.
His innings included four sixes and 10 fours. You may think that his innings was filled with strokes. He had a measured aggression with a hint of caution. He read the pitch early, changed his approach, and did not play his natural strokes.
Wickets kept falling at one end, but he stood tall in the crease. He struck 63 runs off the last 27 balls. His innings allowed Team India to breathe easy in the dressing room.
