Yadav: I’m a better player, thanks to Sachin

Twenty-one-year-old Suryakumar Yadav is Mumbai's new sensation.

Yadav: I'm a better player, thanks to Sachin

Twenty-one-year-old Suryakumar Yadav is Mumbai's new sensation. The swashbuckling middle-order batsman, in his efforts to accelerate, missed back-to-back opportunities to register his maiden Ranji Trophy century ufffd against Railways (88) in Delhi and against Rajasthan (87) at the Cricket Club of India (CCI).

Suryakumar Yadav

Yadav shared his disappointment on missing out on his maiden three-figure mark in first-class cricket with MiD DAY yesterday.

Excerpts:

When you came to bat, Mumbai weren't in a good position, but you looked casual and played your natural game.
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I wasn't casual or relaxed at all. I was really looking to stand up and be counted.

You missed centuries in back-to-back matches. Where do you think you went wrong?
My shot selection was not right at times. Being a Mumbai batsman, it's a crime to get out in 80s like this and I still regret going for those shots. I should have got hundreds in both those innings. I apologise to Mumbai supporters and my team as well.

Did your experience in Champions League T20 help you? (Yadav played for Mumbai Indians)
It obviously helped in terms of tackling pressure. When you are playing for Mumbai in the domestic circuit you are under pressure and CLT20 has taught me how to go about it.

Sharing the dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar...
Oh! It's like heaven. Not only in Mumbai or India, but cricketers all over the world just want to be in close quarters with Sachin for just five minutes, and I wasn't any different.

What sort of advice did Sachin offer you?
He was very helpful all through. Whenever I had any issue, be it mental, physical or cricketing, he was always there. Not only for me, he was helpful to each and every player of the team.
His advice helped me improve my technique.

What is your goal for this season?
My target is to score some 900-1000 runs in the domestic circuit and break into the India team, which every cricketer wants. Then it's upto the selectors to take a call.

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