COLOMBO: High in ‘Sky’: Suryakumar starts off with astonishing one-legged six off Archer

COLOMBO: India vs England: Suryakumar was
equal to the task as he was ready for the shorter one. He positioned himself
for the delivery and then helped it on its way with a ramp hook shot while
standing on one leg and the ball sailed over the fielder at deep fine leg for a
maximum.

Suryakumar
Yadav started his international career as a batsman in an India shirt with a
majestic shot that many wouldn’t have expected a player playing his first
international innings to go for on the very first delivery he faced. Included
in the team for the 4th T20I against England at Ahmedabad, in place of Ishan
Kishan, Suryakumar came out to bat at the number 3 slot after Jofra Archer sent
back Rohit Sharma on the fourth delivery of the 4th over.

Archer,
who had set Rohit up with a slower delivery, bowled a short delivery at express
pace at the new batsman. But Suryakumar was equal to the task as he was ready
for the shorter one. He positioned himself for the delivery and then helped it
on its way with a ramp hook shot while standing on one leg and the ball sailed
over the fielder at deep fine leg for a maximum.

Suryakumar
made his much awaited debut for India in the second match of the series but
didn’t get a chance to bat as India coasted to an easy win. He was then dropped
for the next match which led to several former Indian cricketers criticising
the decision.

He might
be batting in an India shirt for the first time but he is not a newcomer by any
means. The batsman has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians franchise in
the IPL for several years now and before that was a crucial member of the
Kolkata Knight Riders team that won the title twice.

The
Mumbai batsman has been in the news since his stellar performance for Mumbai
Indians last season as many expected him to be in the squad for the T20I series
against Australia.

He was
ignored for that series but was duly selected for the series against England.

Another
good season with Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season could help hi seal a
place in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, to be played later this year
in India.