'It’s almost like watching AB' - Graeme Smith lauds Suryakumar Yadav's exceptional batting exploits

Indian batting ace Suryakumar Yadav has had a memorable year for the national team, especially in the shortest format of the game, wooing spectators with his unorthodox run-scoring ability. Former South African skipper Graeme Smith has paid the highest compliment to the Indian star by comparing him to South African great AB de Villiers.

Suryakumar Yadav has been a cut above his peers in T20I cricket ever since making his debut last year and has taken his game to the next level since the turn of the year. He is the leading scorer in the format this year, and although Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan is having another prolific year with the bat, even he can't match Surya's majestic batting style.

Former South African skipper Graeme Smith, who led an all-star Protean side during his time and was in close quarters with AB de Villiers during his prime, drew a parallel with his compatriot and Suryakumar. He remarked that the Indian star's ability to play the right shots at the right time is very similar to what AB used to do in his prime.

“I’ve seen Surya for a while now at the IPL. I’ve been fortunate to see him while commentating. You just see him grow every year. You could see he has the talent. And it’s almost like watching AB in many ways. The thinking, he has started to become at the same level as the talent and the ability to play the right shots at the right time,” Graeme Smith told Sports Today at the India launch of SA20.

Smith also lauded the energy and excitement a player like Suryakumar Yadav brings to the team due to their eye-catching shot-making skills that attract more audience to the game, especially in the shortest format.

“It’s terrific to have a player coming through like Surya. The energy he brings to the game and everybody turns on the TV to watch a player like him. It’s exciting and yeah, it’s terrific for Indian cricket,” he added.