Suryakumar Yadav hit his maiden fifty in international cricket, on Thursday, in only his 2nd match in Indian Blues. The 30-year-old, on his debut in the 2nd T20I, did not get a chance to bat but made it count off the first opportunity he was bestowed with and started off his international batting career with style.
He smashed a six off Jofra Archer on his first-ever ball in international cricket after Ishan Kishan’s hamstring injury paved way for him in the 4th T20I in Ahmedabad. “Really happy with the way things went. I have always dreamt of playing for India and winning games for the team,” Suryakumar, MoM for his 31-ball 57, said at the post-match presentation.
“We have seen him [Suryakumar Yadav] play out of the box, unorthodox shots in the IPL. Today, as well, we saw him opening his account in international cricket with a six over fine-leg,” Shardul Thakur said in a video posted by the BCCI.
“So tell us a little bit about the shot. How was it developed and how did you get that confidence to play that shot off the first delivery you faced in international cricket that too against a bowler like Jofra Archer,” Shardul asks Suryakumar.
“I have always seen him [ Jofra Archer] whenever a new batsman is up against him in international cricket, he tries to keep the batter on their backfoot. And I have played some matches over the years against him in the IPL so I have an idea about that.
This shot [the six over fine leg] is a shot that I have been playing for a long time, since my local cricket days. I have played this shot in local cricket, domestic cricket and now in international cricket,” Suryakumar responded.
