Suryakumar Yadav scored 62 runs in 40 balls in India’s five-wicket win over New Zealand in the first T20I of the three-match series at Jaipur on Wednesday. The hosts chased down a 165-run target with two balls to spare. 

Player of the match, Surya, after the match said that he did put a lot of pressure on himself in the nets and just replicated the same in the middle. The Mumbai Indians mainstay’s innings included six boundaries and three sixes. 

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“The ball was coming on nicely with the dew coming in and later on it became really slow but in the end happy to be on the winning side. I would have loved to finish the game but that’s how you learn and move forward,” he said. 

In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav credited Virat Kohli for sacrificing his No 3 spot, ahead of the T20 World Cup, in order to give him some game time in the tournament. 

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“I still remember when I made my batting debut, he [Virat Kohli] was the one who sacrificed his position and let me go at No. 3 when I played against England and he batted at 4. It was the same thing. He asked whether I wanted to go in so that I could get some World Cup game time. It was really nice of him and I enjoyed coming back not out in that game,” Suryakumar said. 

He further said that he is comfortable in adjusting his batting position to the requirements of the team. 

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“I am very flexible with the batting order. I have batted from opening to Number 7. I can bat at any position and I am happy with that. I have been batting at Number 3 for the last three years for my franchise (in IPL) so it was nothing different. I don’t try to do anything different. I just am myself and try to enjoy the format,” Yadav said.

“I feel franchise cricket is completely different. When you come to the Indian team you got to be really flexible in your batting order. You have to be ready to bat at any position.”

India face New Zealand in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Friday.