Suryakumar Yadav's Slog-Sweeping Masterclass Guides India to Victory

Suryakumar Yadav, the world's top-ranked T20I batter, has once again proven his mettle, guiding India to a comfortable 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Yadav's second consecutive half-century, a 28-ball 53, played a pivotal role in India's triumph.

Post-match, Yadav and Axar Patel engaged in a playful banter, revealing an amusing exchange between Yadav and Virat Kohli during India's batting innings. Axar inquired about Kohli's advice to Yadav during a drinks break in the 10th over, as Yadav had immediately begun slog-sweeping after the break.

Yadav explained his strategy, saying, "160 was a par score on this wicket. I thought if I started with a few boundaries and got the momentum going after the break, it would help the next batters."

Axar jokingly accused Yadav of "bluffing" Kohli, but Yadav countered, "No, I didn't bluff! I was just being myself."

Yadav's adaptability and ability to play in different modes were evident in his match-winning performance. After scoring a 49-ball 50 against USA, Yadav maintained a strike rate of over 180 on a challenging Barbados pitch.

Yadav's flamboyant knock, along with contributions from Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, propelled India to 180 in 20 overs. Afghanistan's chase proved futile, as Jasprit Bumrah continued his stellar performance, claiming three wickets for seven runs in his four overs.

India will face Bangladesh in their next Super 8 match on Saturday, June 22, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Tags: #SuryakumarYadav, #T20WorldCup, #India, #Afghanistan, #AxarPatel