Suryakumar Yadav has been in an explosive form of late, turning out to be India's game-changer. He is expected to play a top role for India in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, while Dale Steyn feels he could be India's AB de Villiers.
Legendary former South African pacer Dale Steyn feels that the pace and bounce on the Australian tracks would suit Suryakumar Yadav's 360-degree game and make him India's go-to player in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Following a hat-trick of half-centuries in the bilateral Twenty20 International (T20I) home series against Australia, the Mumbaikar persisted with his glaring form Down Under, slamming a 35-ball 53 in India's 13-run win over Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) XI during a warm-up tie at the WACA Stadium in Perth on Monday.
"He [SKY] is a wonderful 360-degree player and reminds me of AB de Villiers. He could be India's version of AB de Villiers, and with the red-hot form he's in right now, he's a player to watch out for this World Cup," Steyn said on Star Sports. He also explained how the Australian conditions would be immaculate for the Indian number four to hit top gear.
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The Rohit Sharma-led Team India would face Australia on October 17 at the Gabba in Brisbane in the authorised warm-up match, followed by New Zealand at the same venue on October 19 before facing arch-rival Pakistan in its tournament opener on October 23 at the sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
"He's [SKY] the kind of player that likes to use the pace of the ball. He wants to get in behind the square. There is a bit extra pace in places like Perth, Melbourne, and these grounds. So, you can use the speed. You can hit on the fine leg, behind and all along the carpet. And he's also terrific when standing still and getting off the back foot," described Steyn.
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"He [SKY] has played some fantastic back foot cover drives and some beautiful cover drives off the front foot too. So, he's an all-round player, and it's in Australia, where the wickets are so good, they are batter friendly. You can also get away when a bowler tries to bowl full, place the ball left, and use the pace of the ball well, given some room," added Steyn.
While India's first-choice white-ball players are in Australia, a second-string Team India, under Shikhar Dhawan, outclassed South Africa 2-1 in the three-game One-Day International (ODI) series that finished in New Delhi on Tuesday. Shreyas Iyer, named vice-captain in the series, resumed his fantasy run in the ODIs, amassing 191 runs in three innings to top the chart.
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Heaping praise on Iyer, Steyn expressed: "There are just little things you can do to improve your game, but the way he's batting at the moment, I don't think he has to change much. He looks in phenomenal form. He sees the ball like it's a beach ball, and for him in India, that's continued a long way."
(With inputs from PTI)