Last year at the T20 World Cup in Australia, Surya Kumar Yadav’s 40-ball 68 against South Africa in Perth had lit up the tournament. Though it came in a losing cause, some of his shots against the South African quicks had even former players at the venue shaking their heads in disbelief. His effortless off-the-hip flicked six off pacer Lungi Ngidi’s incoming ball, bowled from over the wicket, had both the fans and experts wondering: How does he do it?
Magical wrists, clinical timing and intense anticipation were seen as the reasons for this nonchalant hitting, but there was more to the story. As Surya, now India’s T20 captain, takes on the same opponents in a three-match series that kicks off this weekend, it’s an apt time to revisit the puzzle.
