Suryakumar Yadav, the star batsman for India, has had a standout season for his country, particularly in the game’s shortest format, where he has charmed onlookers with his unconventional ability to score runs. By comparing the Indian star to AB de Villiers, a former South African captain, Graeme Smith has accorded the Indian star the ultimate respect. Since making his T20I debut last year, Suryakumar Yadav has stood out among his competitors and has improved significantly since the New Year. Although Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan is having another productive year with the bat, even he cannot match Surya’s majestic batting style. He is the top scorer in the format this year.
Former South African captain Graeme Smith drew comparisons between Suryakumar and his countryman, who once captained an all-star Protean team and lived close to AB de Villiers in his prime. He said that the Indian star’s propensity for hitting the perfect shots at the right moments is quite reminiscent of what AB did during his heyday. “I’ve seen Surya for a while now at the IPL. I’ve been fortunate to see him while commentating. You just see him grow every year. You could see he has the talent. And it’s almost like watching AB in many ways. The thinking, he has started to become at the same level as the talent and the ability to play the right shots at the right time,” Graeme Smith said.
Suryakumar Yadav’s eye-catching shot-making abilities, which draw more spectators to the game, especially in the shortest format, are also praised by Smith for the energy and excitement they bring to the team. “It’s terrific to have a player coming through like Surya. The energy he brings to the game and everybody turns on the TV to watch a player like him. It’s exciting and yeah, it’s terrific for Indian cricket,” he added.
