NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu praised Suryakumar Yadav for his unbeaten half-century against the United States in the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Nassau International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Despite a slow start in the first two matches, Suryakumar bounced back with a 50-run knock off 49 balls, which included two fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 102.04.
Sidhu highlighted that a significant portion of Suryakumar's runs against the USA came in the fine-leg area.
"He has made areas where playing shots was considered a crime. Almost 40 per cent of the runs in his innings were in the fine-leg area. He is playing in the reverse V. He is doing a 360-degree attack. So you cannot set a field. When you cannot set a field, you are left stunned," Sidhu was quoted by ANI as saying on Star Sports.
The former Indian opener also emphasised Suryakumar's scoring pace, suggesting that if he surpasses the 50-run mark, he can lead his team to victory.
"The pace at which he scores, if he scores more than 50, he will win the match. Very few players play at that pace. Maybe Hardik Pandya and Travis Head, that too with the new ball against the short ball. There are very few game-changers," the commentator added.
India finished the first round atop Group A with seven points, having already secured their spot in the Super 8 after defeating the co-hosts USA.
The Rohit Sharma-led team is set to face Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match on Thursday at Kensington Oval Barbados.
