If cricket had its own set of extraordinary achievements, Suryakumar Yadav's batting and Rashid Khan's bowling would surely be strong contenders for that prestigious list. What made it even more remarkable was that these remarkable performances happened in the same game. Words like "brilliance" fall short in describing the mastery displayed by Yadav and Khan at the Wankhede stadium on Friday night. Both players were in their prime, exhibiting exceptional skills.
When we look back at the Mumbai Indians - Gujarat Titans IPL match, it will be the performances of these two players that stand out, even more than the final result. Interestingly, the match elevated the home team to a comfortable and unmatched third position in the points table. However, the significance lies in the tale of two heroes, one triumphant and the other facing unfortunate circumstances. Rashid Khan might have questioned the fairness of cricket, as it often seems that poetic justice heavily favors the batsmen. Despite his outstanding all-round contribution of four wickets for 30 runs and an unbeaten 79, achieved at an incredible strike rate of nearly 250, it ended up being a losing cause on that Friday night.
Suryakumar Yadav's innings was nothing short of a visual delight, showcasing aesthetics, creativity, and artistry. More than just a batsman, he resembled a true artist, performing with the brilliance and genius we see in creative fields. The condition of the pitch, the fielders, the boundary distances, and even the bowlers seemed inconsequential to him as he effortlessly placed the ball wherever he desired. While there have been faster centuries in world cricket, Suryakumar's first IPL hundred, scored off just 49 balls with 11 boundaries and six maximums, was a true classic.
Even though he was playing in his own home ground, it was a new experience for Surya, who is usually skilled at chasing. In a crucial match, he had to bat first in a stadium where the Mumbai Indians had successfully chased down targets in the past. It wasn't an easy task, but Surya managed to keep himself motivated and didn't let his guard down. "Most importantly, we batted first today and decided to maintain the same momentum as if we were chasing a target of 200-220," Surya said, rightfully being named the man of the match, expressing his thoughts after the game.
Getting off to a quick start wasn't effortless for him, but he received support from Nehal Wadehera or Vishnu Vinod at the other end. Once he gauged the bowlers' strategies and understood the nature of the pitch, he adapted his gameplay accordingly. While the bowlers had five different variations, Surya had an impressive repertoire of ten different options to play his shots. It seemed like he anticipated the line and length of the bowlers who faced him most of the time, enabling him to play them effectively.
Even Mohammed Shami couldn't handle his clever bowling - he conceded 19 runs in the 19th over (Shami's fourth), and his four overs cost 53 runs. One particularly impressive six in that over stood out during the match. The ball was hit over the short third man boundary with a skillful stroke of the bat that left even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in awe. In the Wankhede dressing room, Tendulkar was seen attempting to replicate the shot.
As a versatile batsman with a wide range of shots at his disposal - cuts, pulls, drives, chips, and lofts - he played shots to all parts of the field, consistently finding gaps or clearing the field with ease. The last shot of the night was truly magical - a powerful slog-sweep over the square leg boundary to a ball that was pitched wide outside the off-stump by Alzarri Joseph. This remarkable shot marked his first century in the IPL.
When asked about his breathtaking shots, he mentioned the extensive practice he puts in before each game, allowing him to enter the match with clarity and the freedom to express himself. He also acknowledged that it was one of the best innings of his career.
Captain Rohit Sharma praised his match-winning performance, highlighting his ability to approach each game with a fresh mindset and never dwelling on past achievements. Even Rashid Khan, who had to face him as a bowler, couldn't believe what he witnessed. "SKY was unbelievable. It's incredibly challenging to bowl to him, and some of the shots he played were extraordinary," Khan commented on Surya's innings.
Most IPL coaches advise batsmen to approach Rashid Khan's bowling as fast off-cutters, without worrying about his action, delivery point, or wrist movement. It was always assumed that Rashid would predominantly bowl wrong-uns. However, he took up the challenge and started incorporating leg-spin regularly into his bowling. One of his victims that night was Rohit Sharma, who edged a delivery that turned away from him.
While it was expected that Rashid would be difficult to score against, on a night when the opposition scored 218 runs, he only conceded 30 runs in his allotted overs and took four wickets. He provided crucial breakthroughs when the team needed them the most. Surya, on the other hand, managed to counter Rashid's spin by employing the sweeping technique, but not every batsman was successful in deciphering his bowling. Rashid's bowling and wickets were just as impressive and impactful as Surya's runs that night, even though the final match result may not reflect it.
Aashish Kapoor attempted to explain the unique artistry of Rashid's bowling, which would be incredibly difficult for a batsman to comprehend. He compared Rashid to renowned spinners like Anil Kumble, highlighting the distinctiveness of Rashid's style. Unlike other spinners, Rashid relies heavily on his speed and length, allowing him to skid the ball onto the bat. However, he also possesses the knowledge to vary his pace on specific pitches, enabling him to generate spin. The googly remains his primary weapon, and he carefully studies the pitch before each match to determine the appropriate lengths to bowl.
But Rashid's contributions were not limited to his exceptional bowling skills. When his turn to bat arrived, he astonished everyone by smashing the ball with the same ease displayed by Surya in his batting. Despite Gujarat Titans losing eight wickets for 103 runs in their pursuit of 219, Rashid's innings of 79 was seen as a fearless display, although it was accompanied by a strategic approach and calculated shots.
Kapoor mentioned that Rashid had previously won several games for the team with his batting prowess. This year, he was finally given a significant number of deliveries to face, and he nearly pulled off a remarkable victory. Kapoor believed that if they had a few productive overs at the beginning, they would have come much closer to the target. This perspective shed light on Rashid's stunning counterattack and the strategic thinking behind it.
In Conclusion -
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