In a recent analysis, former MI star Ambati Rayudu highlighted Suryakumar Yadav’s key vulnerability that opponents might target in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Ambati Rayudu cautioned Suryakumar Yadav about his weakness, particularly emphasising the challenge posed by slow pitches and larger boundaries, potentially impacting his performance on such surfaces.
Rayudu’s journey began with impressive performances in domestic cricket. His consistent batting and occasional bowling all-round abilities grabbed his attention. The Indian Premier League (IPL) became another stage for him to shine. His exploits with teams like the Mumbai Indians earned him a call-up to the Indian team in limited-overs formats (ODIs and T20Is) between 2013 and 2019.
Ambati Rayudu played 61 ODIs for India, showcasing his solid batting skills and contributing with his bowling when needed. However, his international career was plagued by inconsistency. A controversial omission from the 2019 Cricket World Cup squad, despite being in good form, further dampened his spirits. This ultimately led to his decision to retire from international cricket in 2019. Despite the international setback, Rayudu continued to be a valuable player in domestic cricket, representing Baroda. He also enjoyed a successful stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, known for his dependable batting in the middle order.
The first half of the season saw Suryakumar Yadav struggle to find a consistent rhythm. He missed the opening three matches due to injury, and upon his return, his scores reflected a period of adjustment. A string of starts – 0, 52, 0, 78 – showcased his immense talent, but the inability to convert those starts into big scores was a cause for concern for both him and the Mumbai Indians. Facing a must-win situation against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Surya stepped up with a match-winning century. His unbeaten knock of 102 runs off just 51 balls was a masterclass in power-hitting and calculated strokeplay.
Suryakumar Yadav Against KKR
Following his impressive unbeaten century against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Suryakumar Yadav faced difficulties in the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders. In a rain-shortened game where Mumbai Indians were chasing 158 runs, the stylish batsman managed only 11 runs off 14 balls, contributing to their defeat by 18 runs, despite being five-time champions.
In the 11th over, Russell delivered a slower ball wide off the off-stump, tempting Suryakumar Yadav to pull it towards the leg side. However, Yadav could only manage to hit it flat to Ramandeep Singh, who took a routine catch at deep square leg.
What Ambati Rayudu Said
Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu, while analysing Suryakumar Yadav’s technique, identified a key weakness in the batter’s game, which he believes the opposition could target during the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Rayudu said while speaking on Star Sports,
“There is a plan in terms of bowling to Suryakumar Yadav. You bowl slow and you bowl wide. We have seen that in the World Cup as well. When the pitch is slow with a bigger boundary on one side, teams have a plan against him. He needs to work on that a little bit,”
MI vs KKR
Already eliminated from the playoffs contention, the five-time champions MI made a strong start, reaching 65 for no loss in 6.4 overs. However, KKR’s star spinner Narine instigated a collapse, putting an end to Ishan Kishan’s explosive innings (40 off 22 balls). Led by Chakravarthy with figures of 2/17 and Russell with 2/34, KKR dismantled half of Mumbai’s batting lineup within 13 overs, limiting them to 139/8 in the stipulated 16 overs. Harshit Rana also contributed with 2/34, while Narine claimed a crucial wicket, finishing with figures of 1/21.
With this victory, two-time winners KKR secured their spot in the last four with two rounds remaining, solidifying their position at the top of the 10-team standings with 18 points. This marks KKR’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. On the other hand, Mumbai suffered their ninth loss in 13 matches, they will conclude their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on May 17.