‘Surya will play Samson-like top-class knock’: Coach Aswalkar

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav at the Wankhede nets on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav's childhood coach Ashok Aswalkar believes his ward will be under no pressure going into the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

"I don't think there is any pressure on Surya in the semis. There was pressure during the game against West Indies to qualify for the semis, but the team did well thanks to Sanju Samson's brilliant unbeaten 97. Surya was struggling for runs until the recent New Zealand T20I series [he scored 242 runs in five games vs NZ with three half-centuries], but now he is batting well and I have no doubt about his form or intent," Aswalkar told mid-day on Tuesday.

Ashok Aswalkar

Mumbai boy Suryakumar began this campaign with a match-winning 49-ball 84 not out against USA at the same venue on February 7. However, the attacking batter has failed to register a half-century in the next six games. Suryakumar though leads India's batting charts with 231 runs in seven matches, and Aswalkar feels a big knock is just around the corner. "The way Samson played in the last game, his innings was top-class. I feel such a dominating top-class innings is due from Surya in this crucial game. He's capable of doing it because he knows every corner of this ground and understands exactly how the Wankhede pitch behaves. And that's a big plus for him and Team India," Aswalkar said.

The coach's confidence stems from the fact that Suryakumar scored a fine T20I century (117) against England at Nottingham in 2022. "This is Surya's home ground and England are among his favourite teams to bat against. I would advise him to start his innings by playing in the ‘V' [the straight region between mid-on and mid-off]. He is a champion batter when he plays in that area. Later, he can play his innovative shots on the leg side, which will become easier. He should begin with singles and doubles, and then enjoy his big hits at his favourite ground," Aswalkar signed off.