'When Pitch is Slow with a Bigger Boundary...': Ex-MI Star Cautions Suryakumar Yadav About His Key Weakness

Suryakumar Yadav played some gorgeous knocks in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 but one thing the dynamic batter has lacked throughout is consistency. He has accumulated 345 runs in 10 matches, striking at 169.95, including 3 fifties and a century. But he has been consistent with the bat this season.

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After smashing an unbeaten 102 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Suryakumar struggled against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. As Mumbai Indians chased 158 in the rain-curtailed affair, their one of the most stylish batters could garner 11 off 14 balls as the 5-time champions succumbed to an 18-run defeat.

It was the 11^th over when Russell bowled a slower one, wide of off and Suryakumar tried pulling it towards the leg side but could only send it flat to Ramandeep Singh for a regulation catch at deep square leg.

Analysing Suryakumar’s technique, former cricketer Ambati Rayudu pointed out the batter’s key weakness which the opposition could exploit in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“There is a plan in terms of bowling to Suryakumar Yadav. You bowl slow and you bowl wide. We have seen that in the World Cup as well. When the pitch is slow with a bigger boundary on one side, teams have a plan against him. He needs to work on that a little bit,” Rayudu said while speaking on Star Sports.

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Already out of the playoffs race, five-time champions MI cruised to 65 for no loss in 6.4 overs before KKR’s star spinner Narine triggered the collapse, halting Ishan Kishan’s (40 off 22 balls) explosive start.

With Chakravarthy taking 2/17 and Russell picking 2/34, KKR sent half the Mumbai side packing inside 13 overs, before restricting them to 139/8 in the stipulated 16 overs. Harshit Rana (2/34) also picked two wickets, while Narine had figures of 1/21 while taking the crucial wicket of Kishan.

Two-time winners KKR thus sealed their last-four berth with two rounds to spare, consolidating their place atop the 10-team standing with 18 points. This is for the first time since 2021 that KKR have made the playoffs.

For Mumbai, this was their ninth loss in 13 matches and they will end their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on May 17.