Aakash Chopra Believes Suryakumar Yadav Can Become The Greatest T20 Batter In A Couple Of Years

Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra has expressed confidence that Suryakumar Yadav could become the greatest T20 player if he maintains his current form. Chopra defended Suryakumar Yadav against criticism for not scoring in the World Cup 2023 final game.

Suryakumar Yadav smashed his fourth T20I century against South Africa in the third match in Johannesburg on Thursday. Yadav scored 100 runs off 56 balls, including eight sixes and seven fours. He guided the team to a 106-run victory, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.

Team India Rarely Loses In Do-Or-Die Matches – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that it’s only a matter of another couple of years before Suryakumar Yadav can be declared the greatest in the T20 format. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and not dwelling on past events.

“If Surya keeps on playing like this, then it is only a matter of one or two years, that you have to declare that he is the greatest in the T20 format,” Chopra said.

“Team India rarely loses do-or-die matches. I was reading that as soon as you start praising someone, it reminds them of November 19. Even in the third T20I, it was kind of the same after Surya’s performance.”

So, for that I have to say, clinging onto the past at the expense of losing the present is not worth it. The formats were different, and it was not Surya alone that was out in the final. When he is scoring runs now, I think it is unfair to ask why did he not score in the final,” Chopra added.

Suryakumar Yadav Is The Best T20 Batter – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav has scored T20I centuries in different countries. The cricketer-turned-commentator dismissed notions of Suryakumar being a flat track bully or stat padder.

“All of Surya’s T20I hundreds have come in different countries. So, you cannot even say that he is a flat-track bully or a stat padder. India won the third T20I because of him. Jaiswal also played really well at the top. He is really making a statement to be part of the team across formats,” Chopra added.

“In my opinion, at this point in time, he is the best T20 batter. There is no one better than him at present. If he continues playing like this for the next two years, including the 2024 T20 World Cup, he can retire as the greatest T20 batter when he chooses to leave the game,” Chopra concluded.

Suryakumar Yadav has joined Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell in scoring the highest number of T20I centuries. In 2023, the right-handed batter has accumulated an impressive total of 733 runs in 18 T20I matches, featuring two centuries and five half-centuries.

Also read: “That’s One Way Of Stopping Suryakumar Yadav” – Zaheer Khan Lauds Indian Skipper After 3rd T20I