India have ticked all the boxes in the ODI series opener against the West Indies and showed lot of intent while chasing 176, feels middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav.
“We almost ticked all the boxes, we will try and repeat the same and that is always a challenge to repeat what we do in the first game everywhere, so let’s see, really looking forward,” he said.
India had chased down the target in just 28 overs, something the side is seen adept at, but Surya thinks batting first won’t be a problem for the team too.
“Not really, I think, we have kept things really simple, we are going to bat the same way, we did in the last game, it is just that when we bat first, we need to try and bat till the end to have that defendable score, but the way we batted in the second innings in the last game, I think it was perfect.
“I think the tempo was nice, the intensity and the intent was really good, so there is nothing to change, I mean you just need to be safe and just express ourselves.”
Talking about his wide range of strokes, he said: “It all came from practice, I mean it was not that difficult, I knew I just had to work on few strokes, where I can get runs... so I was focusing on that and slowly kept working in the nets, did lot of match simulations when I was back home and with lot of perfect practise it came automatically.”
Surya, 31, also doesn’t like comparisons, especially with someone like Australia’s Michael Bevan.
“Michael Bevan, huh?” he asked at the media conference and laughed off the suggestion that “people had started labelling him a finisher”.
“Sir, I’ve just played five games. Or maybe seven,” he said with a grin. “Let me remain Suryakumar Yadav (laughs). Whatever number I can bat, whatever situation I am in, if I can make the team win from there, that will be my focus. But I want to be fearless as I am, always.”
Surya has batted at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 during his short career and said he is ready to bat at any position.
“It is not too different, I have been batting at all the positions and I am really flexible, so where ever the team management decides and wants me to bat, I am really flexible to bat at any position,” he said.
The Mumbai Indians batsman stressed that he can bowl if the need arises. “Yes (I can contribute with the ball), whenever I will get an opportunity, I will bowl and I have been regularly bowling in the nets, whenever they feel they (team management) can use me, I’m always available,” he said.
On Sunday, Suryakumar also received “friendly” banter from his IPL mate Kieron Pollard. “Show us those flicks you play in the IPL,” the West Indies captain said.
“I didn’t get a chance to sledge him though, he was in a hurry,” Surya quipped.
