After playing a match-winning innings against New Zealand last night, Suryakumar Yadav had words of praise for his former T20I captain Virat Kohli who, according to him, sacrificed his own batting position just to give him the batting position of no. 3 in his debut match against England.
Surya made his debut for India in T20 international cricket earlier this year against England and made a half century in his very first appearance, batting at no. 3. Since that game, most of the time Surya has played for India, he has batted at no. 3, a batting position which has generally been occupied by Virat Kohli in white ball cricket for India over the years.
Suryakumar Yadav also revealed that in the last T20 World Cup game against Namibia, Virat asked him if he wanted to bat again at no. 3 just because it was his first World Cup.
Virat Kohli has recently left India’s T20I captaincy and is currently on a break from the shortest format of the game. He will return to play test match cricket in the second test against the Kiwis, but it’s not certain how much of T20 cricket he would play for India in this home season.
“I still remember when I made my batting debut, he was the one who sacrificed his position and let me go at No. 3 when I played against England and he batted at 4,” Suryakumar said talking about Virat Kohli after the T20 international match against New Zealand yesterday where he was declared player of the match.
Suryakumar Yadav might continue to bat at no. 3 for India even when Virat Kohli returns
Given the fact that the next T20 World Cup is in Australia, where players who are good against pace and bounce will be needed, Virat might still be in frame to play that tournament.
However, even if Virat returns to India’s T20I squad, it’s very likely that Suryakumar Yadav will continue to bat at no. 3 for the majority of the time leading up to the next World Cup. With India having not won T20 World Cups for a long time now, the next World Cup in Australia is a very important assignment for the team.
