“Can say that was one of my best T20 knocks,”: Suryakumar Yadav after his masterful 103* vs GT

Suryakumar Yadav with his century set the tone for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans to beat the visitors by 26 runs.

On May 12, 2023, the 57th game of the IPL 2023 took place between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The GT captain, Hardik Pandya, won the toss and choose to chase because no total appeared to be reachable on the Wankhede field as of late. This game began with neither team having altered.

Ishan Kishan (31 in 20 balls) and Rohit Sharma (29 in 18) scored the first 61 runs of MI's innings, which got off to a fast start. Rashid Khan 4/30, the GT vice-captain, entered the assault though, and quickly removed Rohit, Ishan, and Nehal Wadhera.

Then Suryakumar Yadav (103* in 49 balls with 11 fours and 6 sixes) and Vishnu Vinod (30) added 65 runs together. In 20 overs, his blitz propelled MI to a final total of 218/5.

In response, GT made a shaky start and continued to lose wickets frequently despite David Miller (41), and Vijay Shankar (29), who both scored some runs.

Rashid Khan threw caution to the breeze at 103/8 and smashed 10 sixes and 3 fours in his 32-ball 79*. He also combined 88* runs in 40 balls with Alzarri Joseph (7*) for the 9th wicket.

Akash Madhwal took three wickets for MI, and GT's final score of 191/8 resulted in a 27-run defeat.

After the match, GT captain Hardik Pandya praised Rashid Khan for his scintillating knock and bowling effort. He also rued that the team failed when presented with a stiff target.

“Felt like from our team only he (Rashid) turned up. The way he batted, the way he bowled, it was tremendous. Don't have to try much (after this result). As a group, we weren't there. In bowling also we were very flat. Didn't have clear plans or didn't execute. Wicket was very flat but I felt we gave 25 runs extra. Have spoken enough about him (Surya). One of the best batters in T20 cricket. You saw what can happen if you don't execute your plans,” he said.

Pandya also said that GT lacked execution of their plans which led to MI posting 218/5 in 20 overs.

He said: “For me, it's very important that as a bowler you are clear. I can only set the fields. Losing five wickets and then scoring 129 in the last 10 overs (MI innings). We lacked a lot of execution and heart. That cost us the game. The intensity was also flat. Expected things to happen, but everyone knows at this level it doesn't just happen.”

On the other hand, winning MI skipper Rohit Sharma was happy to get the two points, while he lauded Suryakumar Yadav for his confidence with the bat.

Rohit said: “It was an interesting game, especially from our point of view, happy to get the two points. That was pleasing, bat first and then come out and defend the total. We kept picking wickets and in this format you have to do that, great bowling effort from our bowlers. The guy has got confidence.

We wanted to keep right-left combination but Suryakumar Yadav came in and said no, he wanted to go in. That is the kind of confidence he has and that rubs off on others. Every game he wants to start fresh and does not look back at the previous game. Sometimes you can sit back and feel proud but that is not the case with him.”

Suryakumar Yadav was the named player of the match for his maiden IPL ton at an SR of 210.2.

Suryakumar Yadav said: “Can say that (was one of my best T20 knocks). Whenever I get runs I think the team should win, most importantly we batted first today and said that we would keep the same tempo when you are chasing 200-220.”

Suryakumar Yadav was also asked about his jaw dropping six off Mohammed Shami on a full ball, which he manipulated with his wrists and timing and hit it over third man.

“There was a lot of dew on the ground, it was there from the 7-8th over and I knew what shots to play, I was not thinking about hitting straight, I had two shots in my mind - one over fine leg and one over third man. There is lots and lots of practice before the game, so when I come into the game I am very clear and just go express myself,” Suryakumar Yadav signed off.

MI will next face off against LSG on May 16 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.