Suryakumar Yadav Discusses Batting Adaptability At T20 World Cup

Bridgetown, June 19 (PTI): The world's top-ranked batter, Suryakumar Yadav, has adapted his game due to the nature of the wickets in the T20 World Cup. However, he expects the surfaces in the Caribbean to be more conducive to strokeplay.

India will begin their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan on Thursday. Their other matches are against Bangladesh and Australia in St Lucia, which has produced the tournament's highest total so far, and Antigua.

On the challenging wickets of New York, Suryakumar had to adjust his approach, especially playing strokes behind the wicket. He guided India to victory against the USA with an unbeaten 50 off 49 balls, significantly lower than his average strike rate of 168.06.

"If you have been number one for two years, you should be able to bat in different conditions and adapt your game as per the team's needs. That displays good batsmanship, and that is what I try," said Suryakumar during a media interaction on Tuesday.

"It's difficult to generate force when there's no pace on the wicket and when someone has read your game well. So, at that time, you have to be very smart about how you want to extend your innings."

"You have to change according to the situation, what the team demands at that moment, talk to your partner who is inside, calm your nerves down, and then take the innings ahead."

Suryakumar is looking forward to returning to his 360-degree style in the Caribbean but mentioned he had no issues with the conditions in the USA.

"I was happy playing there as well (laughs). It's not that we weren't happy playing there, but we were playing for the first time. So yes, the conditions were different and a little challenging as well. But we have played here (in West Indies), we know the conditions."

The pitch at Kensington Oval has a brownish look to it, similar to what the Indian team witnessed on its last West Indies tour.

"The practice pitches were a little challenging in New York. They were fresh. They made the conditions after they knew there was a World Cup there. Here they have been making pitches regularly and they are much better than (USA)," he said.

The spinners have performed well in Caribbean conditions so far in the tournament, but Suryakumar remains confident as part of his game involves attacking slower bowlers.

"That has always been my strong point (sweeps and reverse sweeps). I've tried to play the same way that I do in practice sessions."

Virat Kohli is opening the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma while Rishabh Pant has been promoted to number three. If India loses wickets early, will Suryakumar change his game?

"Nothing like that has happened. We try to play according to the format of the game. If there are early wickets you still have to put runs on the board and bat with that same intent. That is what we try and tell each other—to take a positive route."

"The management has left it to the players to decide at that point of time," he added.