IPL 2020 : “KKR could have easily built a side around him” Gautam Gambhir rues KKR releasing “selfless” Suryakumar Yadav
Follow Us
Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir
Mumbai Indians batsman Suryakumar Yadav has been the talk of the season of Indian Premier League 2020. Let it be his consistency with the bat or his India snub or him sacrificing his wicket in the final for his skipper. Suryakumar has hogged the limelight throughout the electrifying season. The stylish batter scored 480 runs in 16 games as he held up the MI top order in skipper Rohit Sharma‘s absence with the bat.
The biggest lost KKR has ever had
Reflecting on his great touch with the bat, Gautam Gambhir hailed his release as Kolkata Knight Riders‘ greatest loss in the IPL. Gambhir shares that he was grooming Suryakumar to take over the side’s reigns after him. But clearly, KKR team management thought otherwise. Suryakumar batted low in the KKR line up and hence wasn’t able to play with freedom.
“Suryakumar Yadav is not easily earned by Mumbai Indians, it is probably the biggest lost KKR has ever had in 13 years. Someone who was young came into KKR, played for 4 years. Obviously couldn’t get the number where he should have batted at because of the batting line up we had back then. Manish Pandey was batting at number 3, he was batting at 6 or 7. But again KKR could have easily built a side around Suryakumar Yadav,” Gambhir told on ESPN Cricinfo T20 Timeout.
“He was the vice captain when I was leading the side, made him the vice captain so that there is an easy transition. I could see the leadership qualities that Suryakumar Yadav had. Very selfless guy. You make him bat at 6, you make him bat at 7, he can bat at every number. There will never be a long phase where you wanted to bat no 3 and that is the players you want. And that is the kind of culture you have built at Mumbai Indians,” he adds.
He has got a great head on his shoulders
The cricketer turned politician hopes that he will see Suryakumar taking over Mumbai after Rohit. Gambhir adds that sooner or later the MI think tank will recognise his excellent leadership qualities.
“You don’t get Indian players of that kind of talent and plus his leadership skills. We still haven’t seen his leadership skills but he has got a great head on his shoulders. He knows how to lead the side. Because Rohit Sharma is so successful we haven’t seen the best of Suryakumar Yadav. But going forward, I am sure, Suryakumar Yadav will take over this side if he stays on with Mumbai Indians because they will definitely see him as a leader in the group,” he signs off.
Stay Updated!
Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)