India vs West Indies: Rohit Sharma is wonderfully leading from the front, says Suryakumar Yadav
India Today
India vs West Indies: Speaking after playing a key role in India's 6-wicket in the first T20I in Kolkata, Suryakumar Yadav revealed how he learnt from his past mistakes to master the role of a finisher in the shortest format of the game.
India batter Suryakumar Yadav said it's nice to see Rohit Sharma leading from the front with the bat in T20I cricket, adding that it's important for the top-order to capitalize on good starts especially in the powerplay. Suryakumar's comments came after Rohit hit a match-winning 40 in just 19 balls against West Indies in the first T20I at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Suryakumar Yadav said Rohit is not doing anything different but just looking to build a solid platform for the middle-order as he shed light on the aggressive approach from the captain in the 1st T20I.
India vs West Indies, 1st T20I: Highlights
Rohit hit 3 sixes and 4 boundaries in his 64-run opening stand with Ishan Kishan as India gunned down a 158-run target with 1.1 overs to spare. Even as Ishan (35 from 42 balls) was struggling to get the timing right, Rohit took the aggressive route, putting pressure on the West Indies pacers.
Rohit's aggression made up for Ishan's struggles as India got off to a flying start before Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer put on the finishing touches with an unbeaten 48-run stand for the 5th wicket.
"What to say? The entire world is seeing his batting. He is a class player. He played the way he has been playing for India all these years. He is not doing anything different," Suryakumar told the press after the first T20I."When he is batting in the powerplay, when he feels he is in good touch, he is capitalising on it. He is doing it wonderfully, leading from the front," he added.
Suryakumar bailed India out of a spot of bother as they had lost Ishan, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant in quick succession in the middle overs. HItting 34 from just 18 balls, the Mumbai Indians star never allowed the asking rate to shoot up.