Shastri Calls Suryakumar Yadav a “Terrific Player” with Unique Skills
Ahead of their crucial T20 World Cup Super 8s encounter against Bangladesh, India received a morale boost with former head coach Ravi Shastri showering praise on star batsman Suryakumar Yadav. Fresh off a blistering knock against Afghanistan, Yadav has emerged as a key player in India’s title quest.
Shastri, known for his outspoken nature and keen cricketing eye, lauded Yadav’s ability to play unconventional shots and outfox bowlers. In a video posted by the ICC on Instagram, Shastri compared Yadav’s batting style to the legendary AB de Villiers, highlighting his 360-degree strokeplay.
“He’s one of the few who can go 360 degrees and hit parts of the ground that aren’t easy to hit,” Shastri said. “Much like AB de Villiers, he hits balls into unusual positions and confuses a lot of the bowlers.”
Shastri Emphasizes Yadav’s “Pre-Emptive” Batting and Improvisation
Shastri further delved into the specific aspects that make Yadav such a dangerous batsman. He highlighted Yadav’s exceptional ability to “out-think” the bowler, pre-empting their deliveries and exploiting their strategies.
“He’s a terrific player,” Shastri continued. “It’s his ability to out-think the bowler. He pre-empts, he’s very intuitive and he backs that challenge when he’s looking to guess right. And what makes him dangerous is his ability to improvise and out-think the bowler.”
India Seeks to End Trophy Drought with Yadav’s Spark
India enters the Bangladesh clash with high spirits after comprehensively defeating Afghanistan in their previous Super 8s match. Their dominant performance in the group stage saw them finish at the top of Group A.
However, the team is also aiming to break their long ICC trophy drought. Their last major title win came in the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s leadership. Additionally, they are chasing their first T20 World Cup victory since the inaugural edition in South Africa back in 2007.
With Yadav’s explosive batting and a well-rounded team performance, India hopes to turn the tide and end their wait for silverware. Yadav’s ability to quickly accelerate the scoring rate, as highlighted by Shastri – “he takes very little time to get going…striking at over 200 most of the time” – will be crucial in their quest for T20 World Cup glory.
The upcoming match against Bangladesh presents a significant challenge for India. Bangladesh, despite a narrow defeat in their first Super 8s clash, cannot be underestimated. With both teams vying for a place in the latter stages of the tournament, the encounter promises to be a thrilling display of cricketing talent.
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