Watch: Suryakumar Yadav, who played an outrageous ball almost down the fifth stump line for a six against Zimbabwe on Sunday, played a similar shot in the IPL eight years ago and emphasized that he always had an innovative streak in his shots.
Suryakumar made his IPL debut in 2012 when he was bought by Mumbai Indians. However, he came out in a match and was sent off without scoring. He had to wait two more years before he could compete in the tournament, and the Kolkata Knight Riders signed him in 2014.
The right-hander showed flashes of his skills this year, making 164 carries at a 32.80 average and a batting average of just over 140. His first four innings for the team were 13 points (on five balls), eight on three, 24 in 18 and 34 in 17 balls, with Suryakumar undefeated in the first three innings.
The fifth game he played against the Rajasthan Royals in 2014 also saw the batsman in top form. Kolkata Knight Riders needed 153 to win and they were well placed at 85-2 from 12.5 overs. The departure of skipper Gautam Gambhir increased the pressure and it fell to the duo of Suryakumar and Shakib Al Hasan to keep the team together.
They collected 49 runs from just 27 balls, with Suryakumar scoring 31 from 19 and the Bangladeshi captain finishing with an unbeaten 29 from 18 balls. One shot in particular that stood out was a Suryakumar six out of the bowl by Shane Watson in the 17th inning, similar to the one he played against Zimbabwe in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Stretching forward, Suryakumar got under the full length ball that was well outside the stump and nonchalantly swept it up the deep square leg for a six. He followed up with a four to help his side get closer to the goal.
However, he was sacked two overs later when the Kolkata Knight Riders lost the game in the super over.
Suryakumar remained with the team until 2018, hitting 684 runs in 60 games at a 23.59 average and a 135.71 batting average.
Look at the six of Suryakumar Yadav
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Source: wisden.com
