Key Points
- Suryakumar Yadav scored his first half-century after 23 innings.
- Suryakumar slammed a blistering 82 from 37 balls, with four sixes and nine fours.
- Suryakumar and Ishan Kishan demolished the New Zealand bowlers, putting on 122 from just 48 balls for the third wicket.
Shivam Dube had the best seat in the house as he enjoyed his India captain Suryakumar Yadav finally display the wide range of shots he is known for.
It was Suryakumar's first fifty-plus score after 23 innings, silencing his doubters ahead of the T20 World Cup at home next month, during the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur on Friday.
The Indian captain slammed a blistering 82 from 37 balls, with four sixes and nine fours, to get back among the runs. He shared an unbeaten 81-run stand with Dube as India made short work of the 209-run target set by New Zealand, winning by seven wickets with 4.4 overs to spare. Batting ahead of Hardik Pandya considering the left-right combination, Dube made an 18-ball 36.
"I was asked about Surya's form in a press conference not so long ago. That's when I said that he is the type of player, when he will show his form, the world will know what type of player he is. So, today he showed Suryakumar Yadav, why he is the number one T20 batter.
"So, I enjoyed a lot. And it felt really good to see him," said Dube.
- Also Read: Captain Surya Is Back And How!
Before Suryumar-Dube stand, Ishan Kishan took the game away from the opposition with an entertaining 32-ball 76 in his comeback series..
"Ishaan is one of the best left handers I have seen. He is called a small pocket blast in the dressing room. So, I think his batting is very strong. And he has shown that what he was doing in the domestic, he got out in the last match.
"But he knows what he can do. He showed it tonight," said Dube.
The southpaw said it was a batting beauty and the heavy dew made it tougher for the bowlers.
Dube is also being used in the bowling department regularly. On Friday, het got the important wicket of Daryl Mitchell with a slower ball..
"Definitely, hard work has been put in. But it is important that the captain and the coach support me. They have backed me a lot.
"I have said this before also. And I have prepared myself a little. That how I will bowl, what situation I will come in. So, as a sixth bowler, whatever I get, two, three or four overs, I will try to bowl according to the situation at that time," he added.
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