Many cricket fans and analysts suggest that Team India international Suryakumar Yadav is one of the best batsmen in twenty-over cricket across recent seasons. His quick-fire gameplay and other remarkable attributes attract widespread fame to the talented Mumbai Indians (MI) batter.
Many admirers of Yadav’s hitting abilities liken him to the South African veteran batsman AB de Villiers. Several comparisons in recent years have seen fans pay close attention to the gameplay approach from both players. Let’s check out why experts and veteran cricketers believe SKY shares similar hitting attributes with the legendary de Villiers.
Dale Steyn Calls SKY “the AB de Villiers of India”
Veteran Australian bowler Dale Steyn tagged Yadav as the Indian version of his compatriot:
“You can also get away when a bowler tries to bowl full, you can place the ball left and you can use the pace of the ball really well, given some room. So, he is a wonderful 360 degree player, and reminds me of AB de Villiers. He could be India’s version of AB de Villiers” he said.
Harbhajan Singh Heaps Praise on SKY, Compares Him to AB de Villiers
Former Team India spinner Harbhajan ‘Turban-a-tor’ Singh recently compared SKY to the veteran AB de Villiers. Singh went several steps further by rating SKY above one of South Africa’s best-ever players in de Villiers:
“Suryakumar is in a different league. When Suryakumar Yadav shines, no one can survive. We have all seen AB de Villiers; unbelievable player! But when I see this guy, I think he is a better version of AB de Villiers. He has won more number of games for his franchise than anyone playing now in this format,” Singh said after Yadav bagged a remarkable half-century at the Wankhede Stadium.
Singh’s fascination comes from Yadav’s ability to react to most balls without hassle:
“I have never seen someone dominating like the way Suryakumar does. Unbelievable. Where do you bowl to him? I am so glad I am not playing cricket now. At this age, where do you bowl to this guy?” he added.
Praise for Yadav’s versatility
Harbhajan was one of India’s top spin bowlers before retiring; however, he admits playing against batsmen like Yadav would have been extremely difficult:
“He has got an answer for every ball you bowl to him, whether it’s wide yorker, bouncer. He can play sweep, pull, upper-cut and I don’t know what else he can play. He is a different kind of a player,” Singh remarked.
Calls for Yadav’s future away from Mumbai Indians
Harbhajan recommends Yadav to all IPL franchises if he ever decides to leave Mumbai:
“If I was part of any team, he would be my first pick, if he comes in the auction. But it’s never going to happen,” the veteran spinner concluded.
Ajay Jadeja Speaks on SKY-AB Comparison
Former Team India international Ajay Jadeja shared his opinion on the SKY-AB de Villiers comparison among cricket fans and analysts:
“With AB de Villiers we saw, I mean he was one of the finest we have seen, no doubt. His (Suryakumar Yadav) consistency is a little bit more and I think what he adds with AB is that there’s a little more power to his game. What he adds is the wrist work which AB didn’t have. So the angles you were talking about, they were because of the wrists. both sides his wrists work better than AB also,” Jadeja said.
How Did Yadav Perform in His First Five Seasons for MI?
Yadav has been on fire for the Mumbai Indians (MI) since moving to the franchise in 2018.
2018
Yadav kicked off his maiden season at MI with a remarkable 512 runs in 14 games (133 strike rate, 61 fours and 16 sixes). Yadav’s first MI season cemented his status as a reliable batsman for the Mumbai-based franchise.
2019
SKY continued in his fine-hitting form the following year. 424 runs in 16 games made him the second-best run-getter for MI in 209. He also bagged a high score of 71 and +130 strike rate.
2020
Yadav’s performance in 2020 stretched his fine MI spell even further with 480 runs bagged in 16 games. His strike rate (145.01) and average (40) better his previous stats at the franchise.
2021
SKY’s run-hitting prowess slowed in 2021, but he managed to secure 317 runs in 14 games. Analysts attributed his low-scoring turnout at IPL 2021 to a shakeup in MI’s lineup.
2022
Yadav’s injury in the 2022 season restricted him to 8 games. He managed to secure 303 runs during this injury-laden season for MI.
Major Suryakumar Yadav T20 Records So Far
Yadav’s performance in cricket’s shortest format has seen him become one of the sport’s top players in recent years. He holds some of the format’s most-impressive records that include:
Second-fastest to 8,000 runs in T20
Yadav achieved this feat in 10 years and 2 months into his professional twenty-over career. He became the second-fastest to reach this tally and etched his name in the record books.
Joint second-quickest half-century in IPL history
SKY’s impressive tally in short format cricket earned him a rapid-fire fifty in 17 balls at IPL 2024. Yadav bagged this record against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 11 during a high-stakes encounter that saw both sides stretch each other to their limits.
Explosive T20 strike rate among +2,000-run batters
Yadav’s consistency is evident in the remarkable strike rate he continues to maintain. The talented hitter has a career strike rate in T20Is at +160. His tally ranks among the highest in this category of batsmen.
