“More than him running…”: Hardik Pandya’s exceptional praise for Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav puts so much pressure on the bowlers that they end up bowling loose deliveries to the batsmen at the other end, feels Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. Suryakumar hit an unbeaten 102 off 51 deliveries to guide Mumbai Indians to their fourth win of the season. “SKY was unbelievable. More than him getting runs, he put so much pressure on the bowlers that even other batsmen miss balls. He breaks you. It’s pure confidence.

“He has evolved. Lucky to have him in my team. I hope to have many more such innings,” Pandya said after MI’s seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Suryakumar, who was considered the match payer, was seen limping during his stay in the middle, raising concerns about his preparation for the T20 World Cup next month, but the batsman dispelled all doubts.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time. After December 14, this is the first time I have bowled 20 overs and struck out 18.

“But I’m fine. I feel it was the need of the hour for me to win. Three wickets fell and I needed to play until the end,” Suryakumar, who has been an impact substitute for most of the tournament, said.

The victory takes Mumbai to ninth place in the 10-team table.

Pandya and Piyush Chawla took three wickets each to restrict SRH at 173/8 “My bowling – I do the things I do. I like to bowl in good areas and see how it goes. Today it was pinching and it worked. The wickets Piyush took are guys who can take the game away. He asked to go for the short side, but he had to adjust.

“In T20s, more than the consistency of changes is important, what the PC was today and with which it was successful,” said Pandya. PTI APA BS BS

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