Suryakumar Yadav named India’s new Virat Kohli by Irfan Pathan

Suryakumar Yadav has showcased his brilliant form during the New Zealand and South Africa series. Similary he came with the form in the 2026 T20 World Cup. He played a match-winning knock of 84 runs against the USA in the opening game of India at the Wankhede Stadium.

This was indeed a special knock by the T20I captain of India, as India had a batting collapse in the very first game. He has also played some crucial run-a-ball knocks in the other games when there was a small collapse in the middle overs. Praising his performances, former India T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan has compared him with former India captain Virat Kohli.

'He is playing a Virat Kohli-type role'- Irfan Pathan

Suryakumar Yadav, who plays with a blistering strike rate, has played more of an anchor role, and this has been the reason for Irfan Pathan to share his opinion that this has been the reason for a drop in the strike rate.

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While speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan said, "Suryakumar Yadav has played 119 balls. He averages 54, and his strike rate is 136. He often plays with a strike rate of over 150, but he is playing a different role here. Especially that knock against the USA, it was tremendous. He is playing a Virat Kohli-type role."

Suryakumar Yadav will be better batting at No.3

Suryakumar Yadav generally bats at No.3, but he has sacrificed that position for Tilak Varma, and the former has been batting at No.4. SKY has always been a team man and helped the youngsters develop under him.

"Can Suryakumar Yadav come at No. 3? India need to break the monotony of left-handed batters at the top against off-spinners. Even if the off-spinner is not bowling, if there are back-to-back left-handers, it becomes easy for the opposition to cut that angle."

In the tournament, he has scored 162 in four innings with a decent strike rate of 136.13. He will be crucial in the upcoming game against South Africa on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Irfan Pathan also highly praised the way Ishan Kishan has made a comeback and the way he has been batting in the tournament.

'South Africa would make him play on the off side at the start'- Irfan Pathan

Speaking about Ishan Kishan, he said, "The way he batted against Pakistan has increased his respect in everyone's eyes. I actually started liking him a lot more as well because of the way he played and managed his technical flaws, which are still there. He does struggle against spin, but managed it very well."

Irfan also pointed out that South Africa will be well prepared, as Ishan at the start of the innings loves playing the lofted shot on the leg side, and the Proteas will look to ball away from him.

He concluded, saying, "He has usually started down the ground or on the leg side. Every batter has a got-to shot. Ishan Kishan's go-to shot is playing the pull shot or the flick."

"He plays a big shot with a horizontal bat on the leg side, and he gets momentum after that. I think South Africa would make him play on the off side at the start. They would create that angle and make him play on the off side."

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