AB de Villiers, if you are listening, help me...
Suryakumar Yadav’s Plea to Save His ODI Career
Suryakumar Yadav made a heartfelt appeal to AB de Villiers, seeking advice to revive his ODI career and keep his World Cup dreams alive. Known for his dynamic 360-degree batting in white-ball cricket, Suryakumar has often been compared to the South African legend.
Rise and Expectations
Suryakumar gained fame for his exciting performances in the IPL and quickly became a key player for India in T20 Internationals, where he also serves as captain. Despite his success, he has not yet met AB de Villiers but hopes to do so soon to get guidance.
ODI Career Challenges
The Indian team management supported Suryakumar to translate his T20 flair into the 50-over format, envisioning him as a lower-middle-order batter and finisher. He debuted in ODIs in 2021, with the 2023 World Cup at home as a target.
- In his first 30 ODI matches, he scored only four fifties, none during the World Cup.
- Overall, he scored 773 runs in 37 matches, averaging 25.76 with a strike rate of 105.02.
- After India’s narrow loss in the 2023 World Cup final, Suryakumar was not recalled for ODIs and remained a T20 specialist.
"Suryakumar has just one simple message for him - a desperate plea to save his ODI career."
Despite early setbacks, India’s confidence in him for the 50-over game never waned until the final World Cup disappointment.
Summary
Suryakumar Yadav urgently seeks AB de Villiers’ mentorship to rejuvenate his ODI career after struggles and exclusion from the format post-World Cup.