Picture Credit: Twitter
Indian middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav has set
the World Cup on fire with his explosive batting style and consistency with the
bat. Top-seeded batter is currently the third highest run-getter in the
tournament with 225 in just five innings including three fifties. In his maiden
visit to Australia, Suryakumar Yadav has made the batting look easy with his
incredible and unique range of shorts.
Although, Suryakumar's batting style is none too close to any current crop of cricketers in world cricket, his ability to play shots all around the stadium resembles that of former South African great AB de Villiers. Being regarded as new Mr 360 in world cricket, Indian batter underplayed the term by claiming that there was, is and will only be one Mr. 360. However, South African legend has admitted the comparison 'a bit fair' and revealed that he is extremely happy with the way Suryakumar Yadav is playing in Australia.
"I am very happy for Suryakumar Yadav. I think he has come a very long way. I never saw this happening, the way he is playing," said De Villiers. When asked if it is the right time to compare Surya with him, the Proteas cricketer nodded in agreement, but suggested Suryakumar Yadav to stay consistent. On Mr. 360 term for Suryakumar Yadav, De Villiers claimed that he is the original Mr. 360 with a cheeky smile on his face.
"The only thing he will have to concentrate on is his consistency. He will have to do this for five to ten years and then he will find himself in the golden books of cricket players. It is beautiful to watch when he is so free and having fun out there. Great to watch Surya play the way he is playing now," said the 38-year-old who retired from all forms of cricket in 2021. The South African great further claimed that top-four teams in the world have qualified for the semi-final but suggested that ICC needs to work on its structure.
"I feel the top four teams in the world are in the semi-finals of the World Cup. I do feel there should be more games. There are not enough games. If you have ten teams, you play in nine games and you get the top four and then you have the IPL playoff like systems where one plays two, three plays four and if one or two loses they play the winner of three and four. That to me is a fair system", said De Villiers.
