Ambati Rayudu crowns Suryakumar Yadav the best T20 batter in world; Phil Salt, Heinrich Klaasen overlooked

Ahead of India's clash against Australia in T20 WC 2024 Super 8s, former batter Ambati Rayudu has admitted that Suryakumar Yadav is the best T20 batter around.

Ambati Rayudu's comments came after Suryakumar Yadav played out yet another match-winning knock during India's opening Super 8 game against Afghanistan. In the last Group A game of the Indian team, Suryakumar had come in handy, thanks to a 49-ball 50-run knock. He had also stitched a 72-run partnership with Shivam Dube to chase down 111 against co-hosts USA.

Yesterday against Afghanistan, Suryakumar Yadav was the one who made the difference with his second consecutive half-century of the T20 World Cup. It appears that SKY has hit the form at just the right time and ahead of this edition's some of the most important games.

He will be expected to put up similar performances going forward against Australia, the semi-finals, and the final if India reach it.

Ambati Rayudu hails Surykumar Yadav as the best in the world

While speaking to Star Sports yesterday, Ambati Rayudu was all praise for Suryakumar Yadav for the performance he displayed against Afghanistan. Rayudu started by claiming that Suryakumar was absolutely clinical against the Afghans for a number of reasons.

The first reason was that he was able to showcase great foot movement against the spin bowlers and also used the crease wisely. Ambati Rayudu further highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's usage of the crease as he often went 2 meters ahead and also remained deep to play some shots.

The angles he created against the spinners were very good and a prime example for youngsters to learn how to bat in such conditions, as per Rayudu. All of this, according to Rayudu, makes the right-hander the best T20 batsman in the world.

"I think SKY has been absolutely clinical and he has shown every batter and every youngster who plays this sport - how to play on a slow track that doesn't offer any pace. He has used his feet, he used the crease and if you look at his impact zones, he has played 2 meters ahead of him as well as deep inside the crease. He created those angles against the best spinners in the world. So that is exactly what makes him a truly top-class T20 batsman. He is the best T20 batter in the world by far at this point in time given any condition that he has to encounter," Rayudu told Star Sports.

The 34-year-old smacked 53 off 28 at a daunting strike rate of nearly 190 along with 5 fours and 3 sixes which helped India post 181.

Rayudu claims Jasprit Bumrah is a gift from god to the Indian team

Ambati Rayudu concluded by shedding light on Jasprit Bumrah's bowling performance against Afghanistan which saw him collect 3 wickets for just 7 runs. Rayudu highlighted Bumrah's special ability to adapt to every type of condition and stated that all the Indians who have the chance to witness him are privileged.

"As usual it is Jasprit Bumrah and the way he adapts and adjusts to every condition that is given to him. He is an amazing bowler and he is a gift by god to this Indian team as well as all the Indians who are priviliged to witness him," Ambati Rayudu concluded.