Suryakumar Yadav Praises Team's Performance After T20 World Cup Victory Over Zimbabwe
India's Dominant Win in T20 World Cup
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 27: After securing a crucial victory against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that while the bowling could have been more precise, he was pleased with the impressive batting performance that paved the way for India's success.
India showcased their 'SKYBall' style of T20 cricket, achieving their highest-ever T20 World Cup score of 256/4, thanks to notable half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett stood out with a remarkable 97*, leading his team to a total of 184/6, while Arshdeep Singh excelled for India, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs in four overs.
Despite no individual scores exceeding 70, every Indian batter maintained a strike rate above 150, marking a historic moment as all top-six batters scored 20 or more runs with such a strike rate in a T20 World Cup match.
In the post-match interview, Suryakumar emphasized that the team chose to move past their previous 76-run defeat to South Africa, focusing instead on their performance. He mentioned, "We wanted to leave everything behind. We didn’t dwell on our past games. Our video analyst provided insights that helped us stay positive, and it was uplifting to see contributions from all batters up to number seven."
He added, "To be honest, we could have been a bit more clinical with our bowling, but a win is a win, and we will take it as we progress." Looking ahead to their next match against the West Indies, Suryakumar expressed the need to tighten their bowling strategy, acknowledging Zimbabwe's commendable effort led by Bennett.
"I don’t want to undermine the Zimbabwean batters; they played exceptionally well. They took their time during the powerplay and batted intelligently. We could have made smarter bowling choices," he noted.
As they prepare for the crucial match against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Suryakumar highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and making bold decisions.
"Once we arrive in Kolkata, we will analyze the upcoming game. For now, we have a day off to travel and relax," he concluded.
In the match, India batted first, setting a record T20 World Cup total of 256/4, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 55 off 30 balls, Hardik Pandya contributing 50* off 23 balls, and Tilak Varma adding 44* off just 16 balls. Zimbabwe fought valiantly, with Bennett's 97* off 59 balls and Sikandar Raza's quick 31 off 21 balls, but fell short at 184/6. Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler for India with 3 wickets for 24 runs.