RCB vs MI: "AB de Villiers Was One Step Better Than Suryakumar Yadav" - Harshal Patel Says Ahead Of The Match Against Mumbai Indians

RCB vs MI: “AB de Villiers Was One Step Better Than Suryakumar Yadav” – Harshal Patel Says Ahead Of The Match Against Mumbai Indians

by Sai VaitlaApril 2, 2023

Last Update on: April 2nd, 2023 at 03:37 pm

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel made stunning remarks on Suryakumar Yadav, saying that the former South Africa captain AB de Villiers was one step better than the Mumbai Indians batter. Harshal Patel said that his former RCB teammate AB de Villiers would make bowlers bowl where he wanted.

The cricket fraternity drew comparisons between Suryakumar Yadav and AB de Villiers as both batters have the ability to score around the ground with a 360° game. AB De Villiers represented the RCB over the decade and scored 4491 runs with an average of 41.20 and a strike rate of 158.64 in 156 games, including two centuries and 37 half-centuries.

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Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Harshal Patel praised Suryakumar Yadav and said the team had to execute their plan well to dismiss him early in the innings.

“Someone of Surya’s calibre, who’s in the kind of form that he is in, all you can bank on is your planning and execution. What he does after that is up to him. This is not the first time I have encountered this problem. AB was one step better than Surya, in the sense that he would make you bowl where he wanted,” said Patel.

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Take The Ball On His Body All The Time – Harshal Patel

Patel praised Suryakumar Yadav’s ability to sweep the ball from almost outside the pitch on off-stump. The right-arm pacer said that Surya can take the ball off his body, which is something many players are not comfortable with.

“Surya will sweep you from almost outside the pitch on off stump. Another ability he has is to take the ball on his body all the time. It’s one thing to take the ball on your body and play in front of square but if you are trying to play behind square and if it comes out a little slower or a little faster, it’s going to hit you. And you have to be okay with that. I don’t think many players are,” Patel said.

The Faf du Plessis-led team will begin their campaign in the mega tournament against the Mumbai Indians on April 2 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, their first match at their home ground since May 2019.

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