ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “Yes, They Are Right In Comparing Suryakumar Yadav With Me”- AB De Villiers

Former South African batter AB de Villiers said that people comparing India’s Suryakumar Yadav with him for his 360-degree batting abilities are correct. Suryakumar Yadav has put everyone on notice ever since his debut for India in 2021 against England.

After a bit lukewarm start, he has sizzled in the year 2022, where he has 1026 runs in 28 matches with one century and 9 half-centuries to his name at an average of 44.60 and an eye-watering strike rate of 186.54. He has hit 93 fours and 59 sixes as well.

His only century in the format came in a losing effort against England in a T20I in Nottingham and in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022 he has lighted up whenever he has played for India. He is at third place in most runs in the tournament with 225 in 5 matches at an average of 75 and a strike rate of 193.96. He has scored three half-centuries as well with the best of 68.

The Only Thing He Will Have To Concentrate On Is His Consistency: Ab De Villiers On Suryakumar Yadav

Yes, they are During his 61 off 25 balls against Zimbabwe at the MCG, he repeatedly shuffled against left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava to scoop or sweep him behind square leg from wide of off stump. After Suryakumar’s innings, which lifted India to 186 for 5, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar called him the “new Mr 360-degree”. Not only Gavaskar but former Australia captain Ricky Ponting speaking on the ICC review had also likened Suryakumar’s range of hitting to de Villiers’.

And now AB de Villiers himself has approved of those comparisons and said Suryakumar will be “in the golden books of cricket players” if he continues to be consistent.

“Yes, they are [right in comparing Suryakumar with me]. The only thing he will have to concentrate on is his consistency. He will have to do this for five to ten years and then he will find himself in the golden books of cricket players.

Any player that gets into form… I think of quite a few guys who really start playing at the peak of their powers, that makes me very excited. Each sportsman for that matter, it’s beautiful to watch when they are really free and having fun out there. Great to watch Surya play the way he is playing now,” AB de Villiers told PTI.

Suryakumar Yadav will be in the spotlight when India takes on England in the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Adelaide on Thursday, November 9.

Also Read: India vs England, Match Preview- ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Semi Final 2