Suryakumar Yadav is the flagbearer of India’s new T20 template – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra reckons Suryakumar Yadav is the flagbearer of India’s new T20 template. SKY has been at his absolute best in the shortest format of the game and had delivered consistently for the team in 2022.

The right-hander from Mumbai was not only India’s best batter in T20I format in 2022 but also the World’s best batsman as he climbed to the top of the ICC T20I rankings. The 32-year-old scored 1164 runs in 31 matches of 2022 at an average of 46.56 and a blistering strike rate of 187.43. Thus, he finished as the leading run-getter of the year.

SKY scored two T20I centuries in the year as he batted out of this world. The talisman was able to hit the ground running on most occasions and provided an impetus to Indian innings whenever he came out to bat.

The Mumbai Indians batter scored 239 runs in six matches in the T20 World Cup at a whirlwind strike rate of 189.68 and an average of 59.75.

“There was a lot of T20 cricket played last year and one guy absolutely shone – Suryakumar Yadav. He is the flagbearer of India’s new T20 template. Suryakumar Yadav’s graph kept climbing continuously. He batted in a different style,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

However, Chopra feels 2022 was not a good year for India’s T20I team as they couldn’t win the T20 World Cup.

“We all expected that when the T20 World Cup happens, KL Rahul – who plays very good T20 cricket, Virat Kohli – who had come back in form, Rohit Sharma – who doesn’t take the name of stopping, Rishabh Pant, and Dinesh Karthik – our new finisher, that our year will be very good, but the year was not good,” Chopra added.

Meanwhile, SKY was given a chance to play for India after consistently performing at the domestic circuit. Chopra recalled he met the Mumbai batter a couple of years ago and his aim was to only play for India.

“It’s also an inspiration, a learning for all of us, it seems at times that we cannot go further in life and things cannot change. When I met him two years back, he was feeling that it would be enough if he could get the chance to play for India,” said Chopra.

“He had not left hope but wasn’t sure if he would get the chance or not, but he got the opportunity and he did so well, struck two T20I centuries and is placed No. 1 in the ICC rankings. Whether you are Indian or not, you don’t doubt that Suryakumar Yadav has been the best T20 batter of 2022. When he has been the best in the world, there is no doubt that he would be the best for India,” Chopra added.

SKY will be in action in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.