Hardik Said Let’s Take Positive Route & See Where We End Up: Suryakumar

Melbourne: Suryakumar Yadav’s blistering 25-ball 61* helped India beat Zimbabwe by 71 runs in their final Super 12 game of the 2022 T20 World Cup at Melbourne. Post the match, Suryakumar, who won the Player of the Match award, said:

“I think the plan was very clear when me and Hardik were batting. He said let’s take the positive route and see where we end up. We started hitting the ball well and never stopped till the 20th over. The atmosphere in the team is very nice, and the build-up to the knockouts has been very nice. My plan is always clear. I’m not trying anything different. I bat the same way in the nets as well. Feels really good (on his run with the bat in 2022), but coming out and starting from zero is what I always think when I come out to bat, and I’ll keep doing that. It’s good to see people come out and support us like this even after we’ve qualified,” said Suryakumar in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also praised Suryakumar.

“A very good all-round performance, something we were looking for. We had qualified, but we wanted to come out and play the way we wanted to play, which we achieved. What SKY is doing for the team is remarkable, just coming out there, playing that way, taking the pressure off the others. We know his ability, and it allows the guy at the other end to take his time. The dugout can really be at ease when he bats, and he’s shown a lot of composure when he’s batted. We expected this from him, and he’s gone from strength to strength,” said Rohit in the post-match presentation ceremony.

India will take on England in the second semi-final in Adelaide on November 10, and Rohit said that the Men in Blue will take pride in qualifying for the knockouts.

“The key for us will be to adjust quickly to the conditions. We have played a game there, but we need to adjust quickly. England are a good team, and it will be a great contest. We should take pride in qualifying, firstly, and if we play that semi-final well, we have another big game as well. It’s about understanding the lines and lengths – the square boundaries are shorter – and executing well.”