ICC T20 World Cup: Harmeet Singh sees MS Dhoni-style poise in Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar channeled his experience in the T20 World Cup opener between India and USA on Saturday here to get the hosts out of a tight spot as his 49-ball 84 failed to prove the difference between the two teams.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Harmeet, when asked if she and Suryakumar had imagined that the Indian skipper’s career would unfold this way, said, “Of course, we were dreaming all this, but success came late for him. He has always… I think he has now achieved the balance that MS Dhoni also had later in his career.”
“The talent he has as a batsman, he batted sensibly and finished the game and played a decent innings.”
“The maturity that players like Virat (Kohli) have, I have played a mature bat and that is something that comes with experience and the kind of work that is given to him. He is doing a great job,” he added.
Harmeet personally enjoyed a happy homecoming as she returned to impressive figures of 4-0-26-2 after accounting for Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.
“First of all it was very emotional but then it’s not just my story. It’s the story of the whole team, everyone has gone through this journey, everyone came from different places, backgrounds, cultures and their ups and downs,” Harmeet said. “(After all) cricket brings us together and it is a good thing that the tournament was announced a few months ago so I could collect my emotions,” Harmeet added.
The 33-year-old said that the USA missed a few chances which led to India running away with the match.
“Had we not fallen to the wrong field a few times, (India’s innings) could have finished around 120, helping the team and creating more chances. All in all, I am happy with my performance but I am heartbroken that we could not finish the game,” he said.
He also played an active role in provoking others, particularly encouraging Shadley van Schalkwyk to bowl short and slower balls.
“I take a lot of responsibility in bowling, I have some experience myself and I was trying to participate more because in this situation with a big crowd, everyone can feel lonely or under pressure,” he said.
“But when a teammate comes up and says, ‘That was the right delivery,’ that always helps, and that’s what I was trying to do.”
“This is cricket, anything can happen to anyone. Abhishek Sharma was bowled out for nothing today. But batsmen don’t have to face as much humiliation as bowlers,” Harmeet said.
