Suryakumar Yadav reveals secret to his stunning form in T20Is: I don’t go to any practice session

India tour of New Zealand 2022: Suryakumar Yadav, who hit a 51-ball 111 not out in the 2nd T20i in Mount Maunganui, said he avoids going to practice sessions in the lead-up to matchdays. The star batter picked his favourite shot from the masterclass at the Bay Oval.

Suryakumar Yadav hit a 51-ball 111 not in the 2nd T20I in Mount Maunganui (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: India batter Suryakumar Yadav on Sunday shed light on what has been working for him in terms of training routines as the World No. 1 T20I batter proved his reputation right with a stunning century in the 2nd of a 3-match series in Mount Maunganui. In an interesting revelation, Suryakumar said he hardly practices at the nets in the lead-up to match days and tries to keep himself fit and in a happy space.

Suryakumar Yadav is arguably the best T20I batter going around and the star batter was in imperious form on Sunday, bringing up his 2nd T20I century of the calendar year. Suryakumar hit 111 not from 51 balls, showcasing his 360-degree range of hitting after Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field.

Suryakumar hit 7 sixes and 11 boundaries on the Bay Oval pitch where stroke-making was not the easiest. Suryakumar manipulated the field wonderfully well as he negated the strengths of the opposition bowlers with such mastery. The Mumbai Indians batter did not allow spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner to settle in the middle overs and was severe against Lockie Ferguson, making wonderful use of the BlackCaps bowlers pace.

Suryakumar’s 111 was more than half of India’s 191-run total and it was too much for New Zealand, who were bundled out for just 126 in the 19th over.

Speaking to Prime Video after his match-winning knock, Suryakumar responded to New Zealand broadcaster Simon Doull, who asked him about his preparations in the lead-up to match days.

“That’s actually a controversial question. I don’t go to any practice sessions. On optional days, no chance. But even if there is a compulsory training session, I try and take a day off, and go to a gym session. Go to the pool session and enjoy the rest of the time with my family and my wife. On the game day, I try and come 15, 20 minutes early, go to the nets, and bat for 20-25 balls, so that I am already warmed up for the game,” Suryakumar said.

Suryakumar has been in imperious form in 2022, taking his tally to 1151 runs in 30 matches at a strike rate of 188 in T20I cricket. Suryakumar also became the only 2nd Indian batter after Rohit Sharma to hit 2 centuries in a calendar year. He was the first Indian and the only 2nd man on the planet to score more than 1,000 runs in a calendar year.

SORRY LOCKIE!

When asked what was his favourite shot from the masterclass in Mount Maunganui, Suryakumar picked the scoop over the gully fielder to a six in the 19th over by Lockie Ferguson.

Suryakumar made Ferguson look clueless in the 19th over, having an answer to whatever the New Zealand fast bowler threw at him. The India batter picked up 22 runs in the over, hitting it, literally, to all parts of the ground.

“To Lockie over the third man. I really enjoyed that. Sorry, Lockie,” he said.

Even New Zealand pacer Tim Southee was awestruck by the shot, adding that it would be remembered for a long, long time.

“I think there were quite a few amazing shots there but that one of Lockie was incredible. Just the distance it went and the skill to be able to play that, I think it is a shot that all the players will remember for a long time,” Southee said.

India and New Zealand will meet in the 3rd and final T20I of the series in Napier on Tuesday, November 22.