Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s No. 1-ranked T20I batter, has faced scrutiny over his recent performances in the T20 World Cup. Despite being at the summit for nearly two years, his current form has led to criticism. However, his adaptability and resilience in challenging conditions were on full display in a recent match against the USA.

Challenging world cup performance

In the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav has scored 59 runs from three innings. His performance against Ireland and Pakistan drew criticism, with trolls labelling him a ‘minnow-basher.’ Yet, during a crucial match against the USA, he demonstrated his versatility. India was struggling at 10/2 when Suryakumar curbed his aggressive instincts and played a valuable half-century to guide his team to victory.

On a difficult pitch where star players like Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli struggled, Suryakumar showed his depth. He batted through the innings to score an uncharacteristic yet crucial 50 not out off 49 balls. Though his strike rate of just over a run a ball was below his usual 168, it highlighted his ability to adapt, a key trait for any top-ranked batter.

“It’s difficult to generate that force…”

The pitches in New York’s Nassau County have posed challenges not only for Indian batters but for other teams as well. The slow outfield has hampered run-scoring, and the facilities have come under scrutiny. Despite no rain, a wet outfield caused the abandonment of the India vs. Canada game, highlighting the lack of preparedness for a tournament of this magnitude.

“If have you been number one for two years, you should be able to bat in different conditions and change the game as per the needs of the team. That displays good batsmanship and that is what I try,” Suryakumar said during a media interaction on Tuesday.

“It’s difficult to generate that force when there’s no pace on the wicket and when someone has read your game nicely. So, at that time, you have to be very smart how you want to extend your innings. You have to change according to the situation, what team demands at that moment and talk to your partner who is inside, calm your nerves down and then take the innings ahead.”

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As the tournament progresses, questions arise about whether the pitches in the West Indies will be more favorable. Regardless, Suryakumar Yadav’s performance against the USA underscores the importance of adaptability for a batter at the top of the rankings since September 2022. His ability to anchor the innings in challenging conditions shows that his calibre extends beyond aggressive stroke play, proving his critics wrong and reaffirming his status as a world-class T20I batter.