Guyana: Although Suryakumar Yadav continues to rule the T20 circuit, he has acknowledged that his ODI statistics have been dismal for some time. Suryakumar has struggled to fill the recent void left by players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in the 50-over format, despite being ranked No. 1 in T20Is in the ICC rankings.
Suryakumar averages just 14.11 in ODIs in 2023 and scored just 78 runs in the recently finished three-match West Indies series. "We've played so much T20 cricket now, that we have become habituated to it," Suryakumar said after getting back to his scoring ways in the third T20I against West Indies.
"We don't play as much one-day cricket anymore. That's one of the most challenging formats for me, because you need to have different gears. If too many wickets fall early on, you need to start off with a Test cricket-like approach. Then you go at run-a-ball and then take the T20 approach.”
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"Right now, I'm trying to apply what the team management has told me about ODI cricket. I'm trying to take my time and do what the team requires of me. I'll try to keep the faith that the team has shown in me. In T20 cricket, we know what to do because we play so much of it. You just need to go and express your game."
The team management has been attempting to give the maverick batter opportunities to bat at No. 6 in a finishing role in an effort to ensure he faces fewer deliveries, similar to a T20 scenario, after initially asking him to bat at No. 4."If I'm honest, I know my numbers in one-day cricket are quite poor," he said.
"There is no shame in admitting that. We talk about honesty, you need to be honest but it's even more important how you work and improve on it."
"Rohit and Rahul bhai have told me - this is not a format that you play a lot, you need to practice a bit on what can be done for the team. We want you to play 45 to 50 balls. That's the sign from the team management, now that's on me how I want to play my game if I'm batting in the last 15-18 overs. Now, that's in my hand how to make use of this opportunity. I need to bat as per the team requirement."
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Suryakumar acknowledged that he did nothing to get back in the running after his 44-ball 83 on Tuesday (August 8) in the five-match T20I series helped India pull one back. He also reserved praise for rising star Tilak Varma, who hit an unbeaten 49 in the chase. "I think he is very clear in his mind," Suryakumar said on Tilak.
"Most importantly, he knows his game very well, what he wants to do when he comes into bat and today as well he was very clear. Mentally he is very strong and that's the most important thing when you come to the Indian dressing room and play at this level."
Few people anticipated India would fall behind West Indies 2-0 early in the series, but Suryakumar gave the home team credit and said the visitors were focused on winning on Tuesday. "We never start out a series thinking that we will lose," he said.
"Standings don't really matter. The team that plays better on the day is all that matters. And we all know how well West Indies play the T20s. They are one of the most dangerous T20 teams. All we wanted to do today was take responsibility, show our character and win the game for India. That's what we thought when we came out to play - not just the 11 of us, but all 15 - that we need to win today's game somehow. That's what we did today, it was fun."
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