Twitter Reactions: Suryakumar Yadav makes a solid statement with an unbeaten 79 to take MI home against RCB

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) playoff spot has been all but confirmed with a commanding five-wicket win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Suryakumar Yadav, two days after being left out of India squad for Australia tour, played a match-winning knock in front of the national team’s skipper Virat Kohli to make a statement and got his team home in the 165-run chase.

Earlier, it was Devdutt Padikkal all the way for RCB after they were invited to bat first. Josh Phillipe, replacing Aaron Finch at the top, batted well for his 24-ball 33 as the opening duo added 71 runs in less than 8 overs. Padikkal was looking in special touch on the day as the southpaw played some eye-catching strokes with the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

He also got to his fifty in the process and took on the MI leg-spinner Rahul Chahar to race into the 70s. At the other end, Virat Kohli struggled on the day and mistimed a pull shot off Jasprit Bumrah who scalped his 100th IPL wicket. Interestingly, the RCB skipper was his first wicket in the cash-rich league as well.

Even then, at 129/2 after 15 overs, RCB were set to launch an assault in the last five overs. AB de Villiers and Padikkal were batting well. However, MI stormed back into the contest picking four wickets in 14 balls for just nine runs. Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief yet again as he sent back Padikkal and Shivam Dube while De Villiers got out to Kieron Pollard.

It was only due to Gurkeerat Singh and Washington Sundar that RCB somehow managed to cross the 160-run mark and post 165 runs on the board after 20 overs. However, at one stage, it looked like they will easily go past 180. Bumrah returned with the figures of 3/14 while Krunal Pandya was economical for MI.

Suryakumar Yadav leads the chase for MI

MI started decently with the bat as Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan mustering 37 runs in 5.3 overs. The former was trapped on the leg-side off Mohammed Siraj for just 18 and then RCB continued bowling well post the powerplay period as well. Ishan Kishan felt the pressure and was holed out in the deep and same was the case with Saurabh Tiwary and Krunal Pandya.

At 72/3 and then 107/4, things looked tricky for the four-time champions but at the other end, Suryakumar Yadav, who missed out on Australia tour in India’s limited-overs squads, made a sort of a statement against Virat Kohli’s team with a stroke-filled innings. He got an able ally in Hardik Pandya at the other end as the partnership flourished.

Boundaries kept coming despite RCB bowling good lines thanks to 360 degree batting from Surya who also got to his fifty off 29 balls. The required run-rate came down accordingly even as Dale Steyn was taken apart during his four-over spell for 43 runs. With 16 runs needed in two overs, Chris Morris got the better off Hardik Pandya but not before conceding a six.

The equation came down to seven runs off as many deliveries and MI skipper Kieron Pollard smashed a boundary off the first ball to make it a no contest. Surya completed the formalities with a brilliant four in the final over as MI won the game easily by five wickets. He remained unbeaten on 79 off just 43 deliveries with 10 fours and three sixes.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Important win for @mipaltan.

Fantastic innings by @surya_14kumar.
Calm and composed as ever.

Way to go!#MIvRCB #IPL2020

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 28, 2020

"This is not the only season Suryakumar Yadav didn't get an international recognition. It's been 2-3 seasons now, but if he keeps performing the way he did, it's around the corner." – Ian Bishop.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 28, 2020

Sky is shining for #mi #SuryakumarYadav #bumrah

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 28, 2020

What a knock by @surya_14kumar! Don't know what else he can do to wear the national colours! Brilliant knock a treat to watch and hope to see you do the same in the Indian colours soon! #MIvsRCB #IPL

— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 28, 2020

Virat and Suryakumar Yadav in #RCBvsMI. pic.twitter.com/hiIRbWhSnN

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 28, 2020

With RCB's defeats against CSK on Sunday and MI today, the only team that hasn't lost two games in a row in #IPL2020 is MI.

The last two IPL seasons were won by a team that did not lose two successive matches – #CSK in 2018 and #MI in 2019.#MIvRCB

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 28, 2020

A new definition to Mein Hoon Na with that reaction. Bravo Surya Kumar Yadav!! #ipl2020 #SuryakumarYadav #MIvsRCB

— Unnikrishnan (@unni1974) October 28, 2020

At this rate, they may omit all MI players for Australia. #MIvRCB #ipl2020

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) October 28, 2020

Class inn yet again @surya_14kumar hope selectors are watching him play😉.. well played @mipaltan @IPL

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 28, 2020

Like that gesture from SKY—Main Hoon Na 👏👏 #MI on 16. Officially not qualified but I strongly recommend a Q in front of their name. It’s done ✅ #IPL2020

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 28, 2020

Suryakumar Yadav is worth every moment of your time when you tune in to see him bat. What a player!!!!!!! Well played Bumrah and @lip altan

— Ian bishop (@irbishi) October 28, 2020

Suryakumar Yadav is a serious player!

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) October 28, 2020

Yes, Bumrah was superb with ball but without @surya_14kumar knock, victory wasn't possible. #RCBvsMI

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 28, 2020

Brilliant from Surya…really enjoyable to watch #IPL2020 #MumbaiIndians

— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) October 28, 2020

Hard to understand how he’s missed both white ball teams? #AustraliaTour

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) October 28, 2020

Suryakumar Yadav what a pleasure to watch. #MIvRCB #SuryakumarYadav #IPL

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) October 28, 2020

I wonder if Suryakumar Yadav fancies playing International cricket he might move overseas #CoughNZCough

— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) October 28, 2020

Surya namaskar 🙏🏻. Stay strong and patient @surya_14kumar #MIvsRCB pic.twitter.com/oJEJhekwpC

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) October 28, 2020

That's the innings of the season so far from Suryakumar Yadav. Classical timing and 360° range; strength v pace and strength v spin – all with the match in the balance. Impactful and elegant. Reminiscent of KL Rahul's 2018 campaign. #IPL2020

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) October 28, 2020

Move over #ABdevilliers
We have our new 360-degree player whose name is non-other than @surya_14kumar 🤙 Wat a way 2 response. Well played champion. Tera time aayega 😊 #RCBvMI #IPLinUAE

— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) October 28, 2020