Page 49 - The Indian EYE 122223

SPORTS DECEMBER 22, 2023 | The Indian Eye 49

“I am walking, so it’s good”:
SKY updates on injury scare

ollowing his side’s 106-run win
over South Africa in the second
FT20I, Indian skipper Suryaku-
mar Yadav gave fans an update on his
injury scare, saying that his ankle is
fine and he can walk.
Suryakumar’s record-levelling
fourth T20I ton and Kuldeep Ya-
dav’s five-wicket haul helped India
beat Proteas by 106 runs in the third
T20I to end the series 1-1. The batter
had an injury scare, twisting his ankle
while fielding.
“I am good. I am walking, so
good. Always a good feeling. When
it comes to a winning cause, it
makes me happier. We wanted to
play some fearless brand of cricket.
The idea was to bat first, put some
runs on the board and defend. The
boys work day in and day out. Hap-
py that they showed some character.
He(Kuldeep) is never happy. He is
always hungry. It is a nice self-gift on
his birthday. I mean it is important to
know your game. I just go out there Kuldeep Yadav celebrates a wicket (ANI)
and enjoy myself. The balance is im-
portant,” said Suryakumar in a post- matches, Virat leads the run-scoring We will have to change ourselves a On being entrusted with the top
match presentation. charts with 4,008 runs at an average little as we judge teams on results too job for the next edition of the IPL,
Suryakumar walked away with
the Player of the Match and Player of 52.73, with one century and 37 quickly..Results take time. This team Shreyas said, “I believe the last sea-
is in the process. South Africa is not
son presented us with several chal-
fifties. His best score is 122* and his
of the Series awards for scoring a fifty strike rate is 137.96. an easy place to play, especially for lenges, including my absence due to
and a century in two matches.
Rohit is the second-highest run bowlers,” said the former spinner. injury. Nitish did a great job not only
scorer in the format, having scored filling in for me but also with his com-
Virat, Rohit should be in 3,853 runs at an average of 31.32 and Iyer retained as KKR captain mendable leadership. I am delighted
T20 World Cup team: a strike rate of 139.24. His best score ahead of IPL 2024 that KKR has named him Vice Cap-
Harbhajan Singh is 118. He has four centuries and 29 hreyas Iyer has been retained tain. No doubt it will strengthen the
fifties in the format.
leadership group.”
ormer Indian spinner Harbha- In the Caribbean, Virat has as the skipper of the Kolkata The versatile batter has grabbed
jan Singh said on Thursday played 33 international games and SKnight Riders (KKR) ahead of every opportunity to feature in the
Fthat senior batters Rohit Shar- scored 1,597 runs at an average of the upcoming edition of the Indian playing eleven with both hands, es-
ma and Virat Kohli should play in the 49.90, with six centuries and seven fif- Premier League (IPL) next year. tablishing himself as a mainstay in
ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will ties. His best score here is 200. KKR took to X to announce the Indian middle-order after a sen-
be held in West Indies and USA next Similarly, Rohit in this region Shreyas as the skipper of the fran- sational run in the World Cup earlier
year. has played 29 international matches, chise. Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR, this year.
Rohit and Virat have not been scoring 1,004 runs at an average of announced that lyer will continue to The team management has also
part of India’s T20I team since last 50.20, with one century and nine fif- captain KKR while southpaw Nitish been investing in him as a successor
year’s 10-wicket loss to England in the ties. His best score is 103. Rana will serve as his deputy. to Test specialists Ajinkya Rahane
ICC T20 World Cup 2022 semifinals On India playing a young team Making the announcement, and Cheteshwar Pujara, both of
in Australia in November. Youngsters during the tour of South Africa for Venky was quoted as saying in a whom are in the twilight of their ca-
like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, a white-ball leg of the series, Har- KKR release, “It was indeed unfor- reers in the red-ball format.
Tilak Varma, and Ruturaj Gaikwad bhajan Singh said that youngsters tunate that Shreyas missed IPL 2023 In white-ball cricket, Iyer has
are being tried out in their absence should be given time to learn since due to injury. We are delighted that been a model of consistency and
and prepared for the future. playing in South Africa is not easy, he’s back and at the helm as Captain. is a joy to watch, especially when it
“I think both Virat (Kohli) and especially for bowlers. He also said The way he has worked hard to re- comes to negotiating spinners.
Rohit (Sharma) should be there in that people get judgemental about cover from his injury and the form He has established himself as
the World Cup...I think a good com- teams on the basis of results too he has displayed is a testament to one of the best players of spin bowl-
bination would be possible only when soon and it should change. his character. We are also grateful ing in the last few years.
you have good senior players too with “This is a young team; I think we that Nitish had agreed to step into In T20Is, Iyer has scored 1,104
the youth. Virat and Rohit have a lot should give them some time. We are Shreyas’s shoes last season and did a runs in 51 matches and 47 innings
of mettle in them...I think they should very result-oriented, and our team is great job. There’s no doubt Nitish as at an average of 30.66, with eight
play,” Harbhajan told ANI. good only if they give results. That Vice Captain will support Shreyas in half-centuries and best score of 74*.
Statistically, Virat and Rohit are is not the case. I think that if we give every possible way for the benefit of His runs came at a strike rate of
two of the best T20I batters. In 115 them time, they will obviously learn. Team KKR.” over 136.

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