The Mumbai Indians batsman's non-inclusion, despite being seventh in the IPL run-getters' list with 480 runs at a strike-rate of 145 plus, has become a major talking point
"There was a moment where Suryakumar played a shot towards Kohli and then two had a stare-off where the former asserted once again that he doesn’t fear anything or anyone.”
With the Australian tour confirmed and scheduled to begin next month, the Indian selectors announced T20, ODI and Test squads for the tour Down Under but the talented Suryakumar failed to find a place in the team.
Team India coach Ravi Shastri took to twitter to laud the cricketer after his 43-ball unbeaten 79-run knock in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore that saw his side record a five-wicket victory.
After bowlers pulled things back by restricting RCB to 164/6 despite a good start, Suryakumar Yadav, who was ignored for the Australian Tour, scored an unbeaten 79 from 43 balls to steer his team home.
Not considered for the tour of Australia despite his consistent run in domestic cricket and IPL, Suryakumar led MI's chase of 165 and helped the defending champions reach the target with five balls to spare.
Table-toppers MI are on course to make it to the play-offs but the game is crucial for Rajasthan, who are languishing at seventh place and a loss would mean a step closer to elimination
Suryakumar and Hardik Pandya smashed 19 runs in the 18th over and 17 in the final over to get past 190 run mark. The highlights of the game were Suryakumar's scoop shots that went for fours and six in the death overs.
Trent Boult struck with the second ball of the RR innings, swinging the ball away from Yashasvi Jaiswal and getting a nick off him as it flew to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock