Suryakumar Yadav led India’s 40-run win against Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday. The Men in Blue, with two victories, have now qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament. 

Hong Kong were struck by some lightning strokes that Surya played all over the park. The right-hander smashed 68 off 26 deliveries. Batting alongside Virat Kohli, who also remained unbeaten at 59 off 44 balls, he took India’s total to 192 runs.

Yadav came in to bat when India were 94/2 in the 13th over. Both openers, Rohit Sharma (21 off 13) and KL Rahul (36 off 39), were gone. Kohli was knocking the Hong Kong bowlers for regular boundaries. The 31-year-old picked the innings from ball one. 

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Surya and Kohli added 98 runs in an unbroken third-wicket partnership that came from just 42 balls. India stepped up in style in the final five overs, which got them 78 runs. 

Hong Kong bowlers had no answer to Surkyakumar’s 360-degree shots and last-minute improvisation. 

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Batting on 42, Suryakumar smashed Haroon Arshad for four sixes from five balls in the final over, which yielded India 26 runs. He got to his sixth T20I fifty in just 22 balls, his fastest.

Talking about his innings, Suryakumar Yadav said, “Some of them (shots) are predetermined, this format is all about what you think and how you prepare before you go out to bat. At the same time, you got to be staying in the present as well. I felt the wicket was a bit slow.”

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The explosive batter was named the player of the match. He further spoke about his plans batting at No 4 for India. 

 “My plan was clear. My role was to go in and take the tempo up and just express myself, I just loved it. (Adapting to different positions) you got to be flexible, you should be equipped to bat at any number and I have opened as well. I have batted at all number. I really enjoyed it,” he said.