Did Suryakumar Yadav's Wife Help Him Break His 468-Day T20I Fifty Drought?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Suryakumar Yadav ended a lengthy T20I fifty drought.
- His wife's advice played a crucial role in his performance.
- He scored an impressive 82 runs off 32 balls.
- Quitting social media positively impacted his mental health.
- Teamwork is vital in cricket, as emphasized by Suryakumar.
Raipur, January 24 (NationPress) Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav credited his wife's insightful guidance for helping him end a 468-day wait for a T20I half-century. His remarkable performance contributed to India's satisfying seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the second T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Friday.
A video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday featured Ishan Kishan, who was awarded Player of the Match, questioning Suryakumar about his slow start. He remarked, “They’ve been labeling it a lean patch. As a sportsman, I believe those involved in cricket understand a batter's potential. I didn't expect it to weigh heavily on your mind. Was that the case?”
Suryakumar responded by highlighting his wife's counsel, stating, “Everyone has a coach at home, particularly the one you marry. She consistently advises me to take my time. She has witnessed my journey and can sense my thoughts. I took her advice and played cautiously at the beginning. I applied it in the last game and again in this match.”
The 35-year-old cricketer also elaborated on how a three-week hiatus and stepping back from social media positively impacted his mental health, enabling him to achieve his desired outcomes.
“I’ve been mentioning that I performed well in the nets. Yet, until you score in matches, that confidence remains elusive. I took full advantage of the two to three-week break, returned home, disconnected from social media, and practiced, which put me in a positive mental state. Cricket is a great equalizer. Maintaining humility is crucial,” he emphasized.
Suryakumar playfully acknowledged Abhishek Sharma, noting his outstanding contributions over the past year while underscoring the importance of the team's collective performance.
“I also wanted to dispel the notion that India only wins when Abhishek scores. If Ishan performs, we can win matches as well. However, Abhishek is among my favorite batters. I hope he continues to score in every match. Cricket is a team effort; success comes when all eleven contribute,” he concluded.
Suryakumar's impressive innings of 82 runs off just 32 balls featured nine fours and four sixes against the Blackcaps.