Mumbai Indians’ star batter went down memory lane and recalled a memorable match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2020. The veteran batter opened up about the emotional turmoil he went through after being snubbed for India’s tour of Australia, and how he absorbed that pain into a match-winning knock.
Yadav revealed that the non-selection hit him hard, especially since he had been in sublime form during the domestic season and the IPL. Having spent the COVID-19 break focusing on his fitness and mental conditioning, the omission left him stunned and emotional.
“It was an emotional knock because just a few days before, the team for the Australia tour was announced. I had been building up for this over the past few years — my domestic season and IPL were going really well. I had prepared myself well for this season, even taking time during the COVID break to work on my body and mental health. So, I expected to be in the T20 squad,” Suryakumar told Star Sports.
Despite the setback, he produced an impressive innings when Mumbai needed him most. Chasing a target of 165 against RCB, the right-handed batter walked in at number three and played one of the most memorable knocks of his career, scoring an unbeaten 79 off just 43 balls, smashing 10 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 183.72.
His approach ensured the side crossed the finish line with five balls and five wickets to spare. The match also witnessed a famous exchange between Yadav and Virat Kohli. While the two didn’t speak after the match, Yadav revealed that Kohli later gave him the No.3 slot in the T20I side after his India debut.
“Everyone around me, including teammates from other countries, thought I’d be flying to Australia. But when I wasn’t selected, it hit me hard. I couldn’t understand what went wrong. For the next 2-3 days, I didn’t speak to anyone. I took a break and didn’t even practice. I knew my mind wasn’t in the right place, so I decided to relax instead. When I returned to the ground, people noticed I was off, and Mahela and Zaheer could see it too,” he added.
Since that emotional night in Abu Dhabi, Suryakumar has become one of the best batters in the shortest format of the game. With over 2500 international runs, four centuries, and the World No.1 T20I batter ranking to his name, the 33-year-old has changed how modern T20 cricket is played. He also recently crossed 4000 runs in the IPL and is currently the captain of India’s T20I team.
