In their matchup with Hong Kong, Indian legends KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, the former in particular, were having trouble hitting the big shots. Rahul's slowest T20I innings, during which he faced more than 30 deliveries, came to an end at the final ball of the 13th over of India's final Group A encounter at the Asia Cup 2022. Suryakumar Yadav entered, and things quickly began to alter. The right-hander made his intentions known by hitting Yasim Murtaza's opening two balls for boundaries. Suryakumar's brilliant 68* off 26 balls, which included six sixes and six fours, significantly altered the course of the game.
Suryakumar Yadav's blitz played a major role in India scoring 192 for 2. In the final three overs of their inning, they scored 52 runs. During the final over, Suryakumar smacked four sixes. Even Virat Kohli at the other end gave a fantastic response to his striking.
It makes sense that after the game, some wondered if India intended to move Suryakumar Yadav up the order later in the competition. But when a Pakistani journalist inquired as to whether he would be opening the batting alongside Rohit as he did during the West Indies tour, the Player of the Match of Wednesday's match could not stop giggling.
Here is what Suryakumar Yadav and a Pakistani journalist discussed after India's Asia Cup match vs Hong Kong.
Journalist: “Rohit Sharma said that you guys would be experimenting in this entire Asia Cup. Kya us experiment ka hissa ye bhi hoga that you would be opening with Rohit Sharma at some point in time? (Will you be opening the batting at some point of time in Asia Cup be a part of that experimentation?)”
Suryakumar Yadav: "Toh aap bol rahe ho ki KL bhai ko nahi khilana chaiye? (So, you are saying that we shouldn't play KL Rahul?). See, he is also coming back from an injury. He needs some time. Maine toh jaise kaha, I'm ready to bat at any number. Coach, captain ko bolke rakkha hai koi bhi number pe batting karunga bas khilao mujhe. So things will go on like this. (I have told the coach captain that bat me anywhere but just pick me in the XI). There are a lot of things we are also trying. We want to do new things and it's better if we try those things in the match rather than practice session, so we'll get a better idea."
"I enjoyed a lot batting with him. We were talking a lot how to go about in the next few balls. He is such an experienced and I haven't played many T20Is. So having the experience at that stage in the middle was crucial," Suryakumar said.
India won the match by a score of 40 runs and comfortably advanced to the Super 4 stage by limiting Hong Kong to 152 for 5 in their 20 overs.
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