AUS vs IND 2025: 'This will give him a lot of confidence' - Former India pacer explains importance of Suryakumar Yadav's Canberra knock

Former India speedster Varun Aaron believes that Suryakumar Yadav's knock in the first T20I at the Manuka Oval in Canberra will stand him in good stead for the upcoming games in the five-match series against Australia.

Aaron noted that the Indian T20 captain had a dismal average of 11 in 2025 in the shortest format of the game before the series opener. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator feels that the 39* the Mumbai batter scored off 24 balls in the clash must have given his confidence a major boost. During his blitzkrieg, Suryakumar hit three fours and two sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 162.5.

"I think this will give him a lot of confidence. No matter how big a batter, we saw it with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the ODI series, where you have scored almost 15,000 ODI runs, but when you don't get runs, suddenly you feel like you can't hit a single boundary. Suryakumar was averaging 11 before he came into this innings, and he has batted just like Suryakumar Yadav," the former RCB pacer responded after being asked about the 35-year-old's knock on Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues'.

Aaron described Suryakumar's trademark six over deep square leg in the fifth over of the match as a statement after he had got a peach of a delivery from Josh Hazlewood in the previous delivery.

"That first shot against Josh Hazlewood was just a statement shot because the previous ball, most batsmen after getting a ball like that, to which he was beaten all ends up, would be a bit cautious and try and take a safe route, but Suryakumar Yadav did what he does best. That was an unbelievable six. That just got him off," he added.

The surety was being seen in the footwork: Parthiv Patel

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel opined that Suryakumar's footwork improved after he hit the aforementioned big shot that went for a maximum against Hazlewood.

"When you get one of your favourite shots at the start, which Suryakumar got here, the shot he played off Hazlewood's bowling, after that, although no runs came off two balls, it seemed like the footwork had almost returned. The surety was being seen in the footwork," he said.

Patel pointed out that Australian spinner Matthew Kuhnemann bowled with defensive fields from the get-go, giving Suryakumar the option to put him under more pressure.

"After that, when Kuhnemann came to bowl, he hadn't bowled even his first ball and had kept the cover fielder back. It means the thought process was defensive. When such big players know that the bowler is bowling only with a defensive thought process, then you can attack," Parthiv observed.

Surya's one shot and bowler goes off plan: Chopra

Also Read

Surya's one shot and bowler goes off plan: Chopra

The first T20I ended without a result due to rain. India reached 97/1 in 9.4 overs before the match was called off.