New Delhi, May 1 (NationPress) Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav recently shared his emotions regarding his debut season for the Mumbai franchise back in 2011, revealing that he “barely slept” the night leading up to the match.

Suryakumar first gained recognition during the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy season, where he was the highest scorer for Mumbai with 754 runs across nine matches. His stellar domestic performance secured him a place in the Mumbai Indians squad that same year.

In the 2012 IPL, Suryakumar made his debut for Mumbai Indians against the Pune Warriors at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. He participated in just one match and was unfortunately dismissed without scoring. This match was also the only one he played for MI that season.

Following a brief period with MI, he joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2013 and played a significant role in their middle-order, contributing to their championship victory in 2014.

“I barely slept the night before my debut for Mumbai Indians - went to bed around 4 or 5 in the morning. There was so much excitement. Playing for a franchise brings a different kind of buzz. I was just enjoying the moment, thinking about stepping onto the field for warm-up and as soon as I did, I was already sweating. It felt really good,” Suryakumar expressed during JioHotstar’s special show, The Suryakumar Yadav Experience.

In 2018, Suryakumar made a return to Mumbai Indians and had a breakout season with 512 runs, establishing himself as a crucial member of their batting lineup. His performances in the 2019 and 2020 seasons were vital in MI's title runs, ultimately leading to his long-awaited national team call-up.

“In 2018, I didn’t expect to open. I didn’t in the first two games, but then the team management came to me and said they wanted me to take on that responsibility. I was keen, so I embraced it. From there, it was up to me to make the most of the opportunity. I didn’t overthink it. Having played all my cricket in Mumbai, I was familiar with the conditions at Wankhede and the pitches. I just kept playing and practicing. I didn’t expect to have a season with 500 runs as my previous seasons never went beyond 200, but this felt different.”

He also reminisced about the IPL 2019 final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, which MI won by just one run. Although he didn’t directly participate in the last-over decision-making, he was observing closely. “I was standing at a distance when Rohit and Malinga were talking. Malinga just said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll do it.’ And he did. That moment taught me how important calmness is in such pressure situations.”

One of the most heartfelt moments in his career came in 2020 when he was not selected for the Indian team’s tour of Australia. He had been performing well in domestic cricket and had a solid IPL season. “Everyone thought I would be selected. Even overseas players were saying the same. When I didn’t see my name in the squad, I didn’t talk to anyone for 2-3 days. I didn’t practice either. Mahela and Zaheer could see that something was wrong,” Suryakumar shared.

From 2021 onwards, Suryakumar has modified his T20 batting approach. “Earlier, I was batting at a strike rate of 140–150. But the game changed. So I started practicing different shots to stay ahead of the bowlers and captains. I focused on areas where I could score with less risk. My century this season against Sunrisers Hyderabad came because of that practice.”

Suryakumar has developed into a reliable batter for both India and MI, recognized for his aggressive and innovative shot-making. He was part of India’s victorious squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and is currently leading the national T20 side following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. In 160 IPL matches, Suryakumar has accumulated over 4,000 runs, including two centuries and 27 half-centuries.

Mumbai Indians are preparing for a crucial match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur this Thursday.