We need to bat better and smarter, says skipper Suryakumar Yadav

India defeated USA by 29 runs in their T20 World Cup opener at Wankhede. Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 84 rescued India after a collapse, while USA skipper Monank Patel admitted dropped catches and poor intent cost his side the match

Mumbai: Having shown how to bat on a slightly difficult surface, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted that the batting unit could have been “smarter and better” during the defending champions’ 29-run win against USA in their opening game of the T20 World Cup here on Saturday.

“We cannot brush everything under the carpet, we need to bat much better. After winning also, you get to learn a lot of things. Could have batted better and smarter,” the skipper said after winning the player of the match award.

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While Suryakumar was a cut above the rest with his 49-ball 84 not out, India were struggling at 77 for 6 before the skipper steadied the innings and gave the total some respectability.

“Only I can tell how much pressure I was feeling but I had the belief. I knew if I bat till the end, I can make a difference,” Surya said at the post-match presentation.

Surya felt that since there was no sunlight during the day, there was a bit of moisture which made batting tricky.

“It was a little different wicket. But we knew when we woke up, there was not a lot of sun outside. Curator tried their best. There was not enough sunlight to have the pitch rolled and watered. It did not feel like a 180-190 wicket, it was more like a 140 wicket,” he explained.

Asked about his own performance, Surya said he wanted to play the holding role for a long time but execution was not happening.

“I knew some day it was going to come. I was trying to hold the innings for the team last year and it was not happening. I packed my kit bag after my last innings, spent time with my family and then went to Nagpur, and it was a different feeling.”

Having grown up playing at the Wankhede, Surya had a fair idea of how to bat on this track.

“I have played a lot of my cricket here, so I know how to bat on similar wickets. At 77/6, you had to understand that one batter has to bat till the end. I was just trying to play good shots.”

USA skipper Monank Patel felt that 130 could have been a gettable target on this pitch.

“Pitch was not easy to read. The variations they bowled in the powerplay kept us quiet for a while. We dropped catches and that cost us. At one stage, felt we could restrict them to 130.

“I thought 160 was a good score to chase on this wicket. Our top three, including me, could not perform. The intent was missing because we lost wickets early,” Monank said.