“Was wondering what was happening, color of the ball is the same” – Suryakumar Yadav talks on his ODI performance after scoring a fifty against Australia in 1st ODI.
Suryakumar Yadav, the prominent member of the Indian cricket team, has openly acknowledged his bewilderment at his inability to make a mark in the One Day International (ODI) format, despite his outstanding performances in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He candidly confessed that he engaged in thorough introspection to identify the root of his struggles and ultimately realized that he was rushing his innings when playing ODIs.
The breakthrough for Suryakumar Yadav came during the first ODI against Australia in Mohali, played on September 22, 2023. Under mounting pressure to validate his position in the ODI squad following a series of disappointing scores, Yadav rose to the occasion. He showcased his batting prowess by crafting a well-constructed 50 runs from 49 deliveries, marking his first half-century in the ODI format since February 2022 and only the third of his ODI career.
During this crucial encounter, Suryakumar Yadav forged an indispensable partnership worth 80 runs with team captain KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten with an impressive 58* off 63 balls. This partnership took on added significance as India faced a challenging situation, with the team’s score plummeting from 142/0 to 185/4 while chasing a target of 277 runs.
Following India’s triumphant five-wicket victory over Australia, Suryakumar Yadav seized the opportunity to reflect on his impressive innings.
Suryakumar Yadav said “I was wondering what was happening. The color of the ball is the same. The teams are the same. The bowlers are the same. I think I was hurrying a bit. I thought, let’s take a little more time, calm myself, take it slowly, and try to bat deep.”