Suryakumar Yadav

"India’s first 360-degree player who can leave everyone dropping their jaws with shots that not many batsmen will even dare to attempt. That speaks of Yadav’s unique talent that has made him a thoroughly entertaining player to watch. Not since Virender Sehwag has India had a more daring entertainer like him who can take apart attacks in quick time to a point from where they can’t recover. Yadav made his entry mark with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, before a switch to Mumbai Indians elevated his batting to the next level and from there on, he has been a player hard to ignore. A player who is at home in the T20 format, Yadav’s biggest strength lies in his ability to explore pockets in the field - the V behind square - that Indian batsmen, grown up playing the traditional way, don't use that often. It sort of worked against him in the past, but it has taken him this far, making him one of the X-factor players with the bat. Unlike T20s, Yadav hasn’t yet fully warmed up to ODIs, where he has struggled in pacing an innings.

One-day memory: (63 against West Indies at Ahmedabad, 2022)

An atypical Suryakumar knock where he scored 64 off 83 deliveries in slow conditions that India could encounter at the World Cup. Showed he can bat in a slower gear as well.

One more thing: He has an extensive collection of shoes and is known to carry a lot of baggage while travelling. When he comes out to bat, he prefers to take a sprint as it helps him warm up before facing the first ball."