Suryakumar Yadav is a pioneer who has revolutionized cricket’s shortest format.
Surya, India’s first true T20 superstar, has focused on achieving success in longer formats without sacrificing the core of his batsmanship.
“SKY” discussed his rise to the top of the T20 rankings, his focus on the ODI World Cup this year, his ambitions to wear the India whites, and how his wife Devisha became the driving force behind the cricketer and the person he is today in an exclusive interview with the news agency PTI.
If you were predicted to be the world’s no one a year ago. Would you have believed that there was only one batter in T20 cricket?
SY: It still comes across as a dream to be regarded as the world’s No. I don’t know how I would have responded to the news of the one T20 batter a year ago.
I put in a lot of effort when I first started playing this format because I wanted to be the best.
Does this imply that you will adapt your game to the 50-over format for the ODI World Cup in 2023?
SY: When I play any format, I avoid thinking too much. I put on a show whenever I go into bat because I enjoy this game.
I always imagine and dream that I will be the game-changer wherever I go. Batting, whether in T20Is, ODIs, or the Ranji Trophy, has always captivated me.
Why should I bat 100 balls if I can do what my team wants me to do in 40 to 50 balls?
Do you fancy your possibilities making the India crew for 4-Test series against Australia?
SY: I started playing age-group cricket at the national level in red ball, so the answer is there.
Over the course of five days, you will encounter numerous challenging but fascinating circumstances, and you want to accept that challenge.
Yes, I am prepared in case I am required by Indian team management.
Could you briefly describe your 360-degree method to us?
SY: The story is interesting. I played rubber ball cricket a lot in high school and college.
The majority of those who bowled came from 15 yards and threw extremely hard on hard cement tracks and rainy days.
The rubber ball will now come from 15 yards at 140 clicks or more, and if the leg side of the boundary was 95 yards, the off-side would only be 25-30 yards.
So, most of them would bowl into my body to prevent me from getting easy boundaries on the other side, which would prevent off-side boundaries.
Thus, those matches are responsible for me maneuvering my wrists, performing pick-up pulls, and performing upper cuts.
I have never tried those in nets.
I enjoy practicing normally in the nets and hearing the sound of the bat striking the ball. I come out when I feel good.
What kind of relationship do you have with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli?
SY: In point of fact, I am extremely fortunate to share a dressing room with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
They are international cricketers of a different kind. I don’t know if I will ever be able to accomplish what they have.