Before the Asia Cup final, legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar has advised Suryakumar Yadav to spend a few balls observing the pitch conditions against Pakistan before commencing his natural game. So far in the tournament, 35-year-old Suryakumar has scored only 71 runs in five innings with an average of 23.66 and a strike rate of 107.57. His scores were - 7 not out, 47 not out, 0, 5, and 12.
This Asia Cup performance is a stark contrast to IPL 2025, where he scored 717 runs with an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.91. On Friday against Sri Lanka, Suryakumar made 12 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga. Gavaskar emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions for India's title aspirations.
Gavaskar’s Advice to Surya
Gavaskar said, 'He's a class player. My only advice would be to go out in the middle, take three or four balls, and assess the conditions. Look at the pace, bounce, or turn of the ball. It can feel different while viewing from the dugout compared to actually playing.'
He further stated, sometimes if a batsman is already set, it seems like there's nothing in the pitch. But it's always better to play a few balls, understand the conditions, and then play your natural game. Gavaskar mentioned that the challenging day before the final could prove advantageous for India. The super over win against Sri Lanka demonstrated the team's patience and composure.
