IND vs SA: Suryakumar Yadav Has Found A Way To Not Just Survive, But Thrive: Ricky Ponting

Updated - 28 Sep 2022, 08:19 PM

Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav. Pic Credits: Twitter

Suryakumar Yadav had a transformation in his career after being picked up by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), reckons former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

The dynamic right-hander stayed for four seasons with the Men in Gold and Purple, where he played short cameos while batting in the middle order.

Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav (Image Credits: Twitter)

Thereafter, five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) picked him up in the 2018 auction and since then, Yadav hasn’t looked back. After the 2020 edition of the IPL, where he scored 480 runs at an average of 40, the 32-year-old was called up to play for India.

Ricky Ponting explains Suryakumar Yadav’s career graph in IPL

Ponting was quoted as saying in the ICC Review, “When I was in Mumbai, he was an 18-19 year old kid, a young man. He was in our squad not quite getting a game. The year after I left, he was traded to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) where his career started to turn around.”

Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting. (Photo: Twitter)

“He got a bit of an opportunity in the middle order and then MI bought him back in the auction and has been a match-winning player for them for five or six seasons now, to the point that he is one of their retained players,” he stated.

Suryakumar Yadav is an abundance of talent, reckons Ricky Ponting

After an incredible run, especially in 2022, Yadav is currently placed second in the ICC’s latest rankings for T20I batters. Only Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan is above him in the rankings.

Suryakumar Yadav (Image Credits: Twitter)
Suryakumar Yadav (Image Credits: Twitter)

“Anyone who has seen him from a young age, knew that he had an abundance of talent. The more he has played, the more he has learned about himself, the more different situations he has found himself in a game, he has found a way to not just survive, but thrive in the IPL at an international level,” Ponting concluded.

ALSO READ: IND vs SA: Suryakumar Yadav Best T20I Cricketer In Modern Game? Not Yet, Says Former Selector Saba Karim

Tagged:

India National Cricket Team IPL Mumbai Indians (MI) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Ricky Ponting Suryakumar Yadav