I Was So Excited, I Ran In To Bat: Suryakumar Yadav Opens Up About His Debut International Innings

Stylish Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav has revealed that he was so excited to play his first ball in international cricket that he literally ran in to bat.

After years of accumulating runs in domestic cricket and IPL, Suryakumar Yadav finally earned his maiden India cap during the second T20I against England in Ahmedabad earlier this year.

However, the 30-year-old did not get to bat as fellow debutant Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli helped the Indian team chase down England’s total. He was subsequently dropped from the next game as Rohit Sharma returned to the team after having rested in the first two matches.

He was reintegrated into the playing 11 for the fourth T20I and Suryakumar Yadav proceeded to announce himself with a match-winning 31-ball 57.

“If you must have seen, I was very excited at that time. Obviously, I wasn’t happy because Rohit (Sharma) had just got out. But when it was going in, I was so excited, I ran in to bat. I had waited for a long time (for this opportunity). Sitting in the dressing room, I had thoughts like – when will the match start? When will my turn come to bat? When I wore my pads and came out to sit in the dugout, I was a little nervous. It is important to be nervous. If you are not nervous, how will you go in and perform?” Suryakumar Yadav said during an interaction with the Mumbai Indians in a video posted on the latters’ official Twitter handle.

“I was so excited ki main batting karne bhaag kar andar ja raha tha!” ?

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‘I knew Jofra Archer would bowl that short ball delivery’- Suryakumar Yadav on his first-ball six

Yadav further revealed that as he was running in to bat, he was constantly thinking that he should approach the innings in the manner he had done throughout his career while playing for Mumbai and in the IPL.

‘’As I was running in to bat, everything started running in my mind. I was thinking what do I do when I bat at number three for other teams, not only for Mumbai Indians, but even for my state back home. I got an answer, when I was taking my guard, that I shouldn’t do anything different. I just need to keep playing as I have done throughout my career. Be yourself. I have reached this point by doing the same things,” Suryakumar Yadav added.

The 30-year-old revealed that the shot wasn’t a fluke as he had thoroughly studied Jofra Archer before coming in to bat and he was fully anticipating a short-pitch deliver from the English pacer.

“People often ask me about that first-ball six off Jofra Archer. It was important to stay calm and I knew what he had been doing in the IPL. How he comes hard at the batters and what kind of deliveries he bowls to a new batsman at the crease. Back of the mind, I knew he would bowl that (short ball) delivery. Thankfully, he did. I don’t know what would have happened had be bowled a different ball. But it all worked out well in the end and I am happy,” Suryakumar Yadav explained.

Also Read: I Have Not Stopped Bowling, I Keep Bowling In The Nets: Suryakumar Yadav