Suryakumar is amazed by PBKS batter’s masterclass; Ashutosh Sharma is not mini-Surya
During the 2024 Indian Premier League, star batsman Suryakumar Yadav gave Ashutosh Sharma credit for his comeback as a six-hitting force for PBKS. On Thursday, Ashutosh unleashed a barrage of sixes and two fours to reach 61 off only 28 balls, taking the MI bowlers by surprise and saving PBKS from certain defeat following an early collapse.
In a Jio Cinema interview, Suryakumar underscored the fact that Ashutosh is not a little version of himself, underscoring the distinctiveness of the PBKS batter. He did, however, see that they had a similar mindset in their pursuit of becoming game-changers for their own teams.
He’s not a mini-Surya, but he did a terrific job showcasing his abilities, and if he bats like that, I believe he may have won the game for his side. He attempted it today, and I too have the mentality to come up to bat and impact the game for the team. I really enjoyed seeing him bat,” Suryakumar said to Jio Cinema. IPL 2024: Highlights of PBKS vs. MI
With a match-winning innings of 78 runs from 53 balls, the outstanding MI hitter led MI to a winning total of 192 runs. Although Suryakumar enjoyed his batting, he acknowledged that he would not have liked Ashutosh to win the match.
“I actually loved seeing him bat, even though I can’t say I wanted him to win the game for them. When Punjab’s score was 14/4, I was relieved. I began to unwind. Their bottom order batted exceptionally effectively as the game progressed.” IPL 2024 Complete Coverage | IPL 2024 Standings and Points Table | IPL 2024 Complete Schedule
Even though MI bowlers were dominating and PBKS was in a terrible predicament at 77 for 6, Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma rose to the occasion. With 25 balls, Shashank scored 41 runs, while Ashutosh was instrumental in almost getting PBKS to a run-a-ball ratio. All bowlers were spooked by Ashutosh’s bold hitting, notably the purple cap-holder Jasprit Bumrah, whom he swept for a six. But once Ashutosh was removed in the eighteenth over, PBKS lost badly, falling short by nine runs.
THE FIGHTER FOR PBKS, ASHUTOSH: Suryakumar says he’s been in contact with Ashutosh and Shashank ever since their incredible batting display against GT.
“I messaged him for the first time after he played his first knock against the Gujarat Titans, and both Ashutosh and Shashank Singh had won the game in a similar circumstance. I talk to them both on a daily basis. Their work ethic and mentality are excellent, based on what I’ve seen. I hope they both continue playing this way and don’t alter their strategies.”
Ashutosh emerged as the main man for PBKS. He showed his tenacity by hitting a blistering 31 off 17 balls against GT, which helped them win the match even though 50 runs off 27 balls were needed. Together with Shashank, he scored 33 runs off of 15 balls against SRH in a different game. PBKS made a great effort, but the goal was too much, as they only managed to score 2 runs short of the 69 required from 27 balls.
