NZ vs IND 2022: Suryakumar Yadav is much like AB de Villiers at his best – Ravi Shastri

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes Suryakumar Yadav is much like AB de Villiers at his best. Yadav has been in the form of his life and he is often being compared with AB de Villiers for his ability to hit all around the ground.

The 32-year-old can find the gaps at will and he can most importantly play accordingly to the field. SKY scored a magnificent knock of 111 runs off just 51 balls in the second T20I against New Zealand. The 32-year-old also scored 239 runs in six matches in the T20 World Cup at a whirlwind strike rate of 189.68 and an average of 59.75.

Suryakumar Yadav has been getting compared with AB de Villiers for his 360-degree game. SKY scored 34 runs off just 25 balls in the second ODI against the Kiwis at Hamilton after getting dismissed cheaply for four runs in the first game.

“He is one of the best players in the world if not the best T20 player. He has got the all-round game and he is devastating. On his day, if he bats 30-40 balls, he’ll win you the match because he scores at that pace and he demoralises the opposition with the kind of shots he plays. He is much like AB de Villiers at his best. When AB played one of those special innings, it deflated the opposition and Surya can do just that,” Shastri told Prime Video after India’s second fixture against New Zealand.

Shastri added that SKY can make the opposition pay if he gets past the 15-20 run mark as it is difficult to dismiss him once if gets settled.

“If you look at the numbers and law of averages, he is bound to have an innings like that. But if he gets past the 15-20-run mark, he makes it count as he showed in some of his earlier innings. So, he backs his ability and attacking instincts. So, when you have those kinds of instincts, every odd inning, he is bound to fail. But when it comes off, it’s spectacular.”

SKY has been in the form of his life and he is once again going to hold the key for India in the third ODI against the Blackcaps. Yadav has scored 378 runs in 15 ODI matches at an average of 34.46.

New Zealand have a 1-0 lead against India and the final game will be played on Wednesday.