After leading their team to a 56-run victory over the Netherlands in the Twenty20 World Cup on Thursday, Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav said his relationship with Virat Kohli had been created by a shared appreciation for each other’s playing style.
In India’s triumph over Pakistan on Sunday, Kohli’s outstanding 62 not out was his second straight uncontested half-century after a blitzkrieg. Suryakumar then went off against the Dutch, smashing a 25-ball 51.
When Suryakumar and Kohli’s unbroken partnership of 95 runs in just 48 balls propelled the 2007 champions to 179-2, a total that was too much for the Dutch, Suryakumar remarked he enjoyed being in the batting order with Kohli.
According to Suryakumar, “I feel like we appreciate each other’s game. For instance, if I’m getting few boundaries from one end, he tries to rotate and keep the focus to look for nice shots.”
“It’s simply the respect we have for each other when we’re batting together; we just enjoy each other’s company and the strokes he takes, and we make an effort to run as hard as we can.
“So it’s a terrific thing, and I really look forward to working with him again,” I said.
Although Kohli has the ability to go off at any point, his strength is in slowly amassing runs. Suryakumar, who has scored 867 runs in 2022 at a strike rate of more than 180, said his approach is simpler.
When Suryakumar bats with Kohli, he must run hard as well. “I look for boundaries, try and hit the gaps, and run hard,” Suryakumar said.
“He just clears your mind. When I was batting and a little perplexed, he came up to me and told me what delivery can you expect from that bowler.
“There is excellent companionship.”