1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav praises centurion Sanju Samson's 'fearless' approach
What's the story
India's T20I skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, has lauded the team's performance after they defeated South Africa by 61 runs in Durban to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. Sanju Samson headlined India's triumph with a stunning ton. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Yadav praised the team for sticking to their fearless cricket style despite going through tough phases during the match.
Player appreciation
Yadav highlights Samson's dedication and performance
Yadav lauded opening batter Samson for his consistent hard work and dedication over the years. He emphasized how Samson's efforts are now paying off, cementing his place as India's leading T20I opener. "See the amount of hard work he has done in last so many years playing with India and doing the boring things day in and day out he is eating the fruits of that today," Yadav said.
Fearless cricket
Yadav lauds Samson's selfless approach
Further, Yadav lauded Samson's selfless attitude during his century knock, where he looked to score rather than get to his milestone. "He was in 90s and still he was looking to hit a boundary. That's what you see, a character of a player, what he is thinking right now, there for the team," Yadav said. Despite a few hiccups in the middle order, Yadav was unfazed saying the team achieved what they wanted to,.
Winning strategy
Yadav's strategy and team's fearless attitude
The skipper also revealed his strategic decision to bring in Varun Chakaravarthy in the 12th over of South Africa's chase, which turned out to be a game-changer. "That was the plan, we were looking for the crucial wickets of Klaasen and Miller and the way they delivered, it was incredible," Yadav said. He concluded by giving credit to his teammates for their fearless attitude both on and off field, which he believes made his job easier.