India's swashbuckling middle-order Suryakumar Yadav produced another gem of an innings in T20Is and put on a masterclass of stroke-making enroute to a sensational 111 not out off 51 balls in the secondT20I against New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 20 (Sunday). Surya toyed with the bowlers to lift India to a challenging total after New Zealand put the visitors in to bat.
Surya came at number three in Virat Kohli's absence and smashed boundaries and sixes at will, his last 64 runs coming off just 18 balls. It might not look simple to the naked eye but in his own words, Surya kept it 'simple' and executed his amazing range of strokes as per the field placements.
The Indian middle-order batter dazzled throughout 2022 and his breathtaking ability to destroy world-class bowling attacks has earned him several admirers, one of them being Australia's star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
Maxwell, who recently suffered a horrific injury during a birthday party and is sidelined for at least three months, spoke about the Indian batter's scintillating batting in the shortest format of the game and also revealed a way through which Suryakumar can play in the Big Bash League (BBL).
"We don’t have enough money. There is no chance. We will have to sack every player and the sack every contracted player of Cricket Australia and then hope he takes it," Maxwell said in The Grade Cricketer podcast.
"He plays the field so well. His wrists and hand speed is so quick that he's able to make the last-second adjustments to make sure to get the ball into the gap. Early on in his innings, he plays and misses a little bit cause he goes so hard, tries to put the bowlers under so much pressure. Unless you get him out in those four or five balls, I don't think you get him out, he's just so good. The way he plays spin, the way he puts it over cover. He reverses pretty well, sweeps well and is still able to hit the ball straight down the ground. To have that ability to hit the ball all over the ground with so much power (is unbelievable). Whenever a quick bowls fast, all of a sudden, he moves into position so quickly to play the pick-up shot over fine leg for six. And it just goes miles," he said.
In the recently-concluded T20I series between India and New Zealand, Suryakumar Yadav earned another Man of the Series award.
