“I am sure you didn’t watch me play”: Rahul Dravid compliments Suryakumar Yadav, The Man of the Moment
India Head Coach Rahul Dravid has heaped praise on India batter Suryakumar Yadav after his incredible century in the series decider against Sri Lanka on Saturday and joked that the 32-year-old didn’t watch him bat as a young kid.
Suryakumar smashed 112 off just 51 balls in the third T20I on Saturday in Rajkot. Yadav with his third T20I hundred in the third and final match of the series and helped India win the game by 91 runs.
While other batters were having a relatively tough time settling down on the pitch, Surya toyed with the Sri Lankan bowlers, hitting fours and maximums at will and in his trademark manner all across the ground.
After completing his fifty 26 balls, Surya took only 19 deliveries to reach the 100-run mark. He ended the innings in style, hitting a six and a four off Chamika Karunaratne in the last over.
Suryakumar Yadav slyly replies to Rahul Dravid’s hilarious ‘Did not watch me bat growing up’ compliment
Head coach Rahul Dravid, who in his playing days was known for having mastered quite a different style of batting, ended up joking after the match that it seems Suryakumar had never seen him bat and he is glad about it.
“It is lovely to have someone here with me who as a young kid growing up, did not watch me bat. And I hope you didn’t, I am sure you didn’t,” said Dravid in a video posted by BCCI.tv before both him and Suryakumar Yadav broke out in laughter. “I did,” said the India No. 4 while laughing.
Suryakumar’s batting is a stark contrast to the way Dravid played his cricket. The former India captain was all style, panache and grace, and while one can surely associate all these terms with Surya as well, Dravid’s batting was a lot more old school. After all, he is called ‘The Wall’ for a reason – Dravid was a pure as they come, while Surya… well, he doesn’t hold back, does he? Like the old adage goes, one is a surgeon, the other a butcher.
Moreover, Yadav said that he tries to enjoy and express himself as much as possible and tries to take the game on when the teams try to pull off the match.
“Actually, I enjoyed batting in all the difficult situations where I went into bat. I actually can’t pick any one innings. It is actually difficult for me to pick any one innings. I just enjoyed myself, whatever I did in the last one year. I have been doing the same thing again. As I said before as well, I just try and enjoy and express myself as much as possible. In those difficult situations, teams try to pull the game off. I try to take the game on. If it works well for me and the team, I’m happy.”
Said Yadav.
Hence, the Men in Blue have officially started their 2023 on a positive note. Moreover, they now move on and prepare for ODI series against Sri Lanka. Which will work as a preparatory series ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup later this year on home soil.
Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav scores 3rd T20I ton; Helps India win their 10th straight series at home
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