Former South Africa speedster lavished praise on Suryakumar Yadav after India's dominating 101-run win in the first T20I against the Aiden Markram-led side at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Steyn reckons that Suryakumar's "secure, welcoming, and willing to adjust" captaincy brings out the best in the players in the shortest format of the game.
Dale Steyn on Suryakumar Yadav
Notably, India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav have already mentioned that the batting position in white-ball cricket is overrated, and the Men in Blue have been experimenting with their batting lineup. Skipper Suryakumar himself shuffled between No.3 and No.4 spots. In the opening T20I against South Africa, he came in at one down.
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"When you have the backing of your team and feel comfortable in your environment, you can have open conversations with your players. You're not threatened by your spot or by the captaincy," Steyn said on JioStar.
"You put the team first and say, 'What's best for the individual? What's best for the team?' That's the kind of captain everyone wants, someone who's secure, welcoming, and willing to adjust for the greater good. Even if it's just for a game or a series, that flexibility brings out the best in your players.
"So when he tells someone, 'You can't bat at three today, I need you at six,' the batter understands because the captain has backed him before. That's a fantastic skill and a great leadership quality," Steyn added.
Suryakumar Yadav's flop show continues in 1st T20I vs SA
The stylish batter Suryakumar Yadav is currently going through a lean patch of his career, and his recent international fifty was on June 20, 2024, when he scored 53 runs off 28 balls against Afghanistan in a T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Barbados. In the recently concluded first T20I against South Africa, the Mumbai batter scored 12 runs in 11 balls, including one four and one six.
Hardik Pandya's all-round performance power India to a dominating win vs SA
Hardik Pandya's all-round performance helped India to defeat South Africa by 101 runs in the first T20I. The star all-rounder Hardik, who is coming after recovering from a quadriceps injury, scored a blistering, unbeaten 28-ball 59 to lift India to 175 for 6 before taking the key wicket of David Miller with the ball to help India to take 1-0 lead in five-match T20I series.
India vs South Africa 2nd T20I
The second T20I between India and South Africa will take place on December 11 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.