India’s Super 8 journey commences on Thursday against Afghanistan. The team will also face Bangladesh and Australia in St Lucia, a venue that has already witnessed the highest total of the tournament.They will also play matches in Antigua.
The “spicy” wickets in New York forced Suryakumar to exercise patience, particularly while playing shots behind the wicket. In India’s match against USA, he guided the team to victory with an unbeaten 50 off 49 deliveries, a strike rate significantly lower than his impressive average of 168.06.
“If have you been number one for two years, you should be able to bat in different conditions and change the game as per the needs of the team. That displays good batsmanship and that is what I try,” said Suryakumar during a media interaction here on Tuesday.
“It’s difficult to generate that force when there’s no pace on the wicket and when someone has read your game nicely. So, at that time, you have to be very smart how you want to extend your innings.
“You have to change according to the situation, what team demands at that moment and talk to your partner who is inside, calm your nerves down and then take the innings ahead.”
Suryakumar is eager to showcase his versatile batting style once again in the West Indies, although he didn’t face any significant challenges with the conditions in the United States.
“I was happy playing there as well (laughs). It’s not that we weren’t happy playing there, but we were playing for the first time, so yes, the conditions were different and little challenging as well. But we have played here (in West Indies), we know the conditions.”
The Kensington Oval pitch has a distinct brownish appearance, which the Indian team also observed during their previous tour of the Caribbean.
“The practice pitches, yeah, they were a little spicy in New York. It was fresh. They made the conditions after they got to know there is a World Cup there. Here they have been making pictures regularly and they are much better than (USA),” he said.
The spinners have been doing well in the Caribbean conditions so far in the tournament but Suryakumar is not perturbed.
“That has always been my strong point (sweeps and reverse sweeps). I’ve tried to play the same way that I do in the practice sessions.”
In a strategic move, Virat Kohli has been paired with captain Rohit Sharma to open the batting, while Rishabh Pant has been elevated to the number three position. The question remains: if India suffers early wicket losses, will Suryakumar adapt his approach to the situation
“Nothing like that has happened. We try to play the format of the game. If there are early wickets you still have to put runs on the board and bat with that same intent. That is what we try and tell each other to take the positive route.
“The management has left it to the players to decide at that point of time,” he added.