Not yet the best T20I batter from India: Southee calms the 'SKY debate'


image-laqpx8bfSuryakumar scored 111* at Bay Oval (PC: Twitter)

Suryakumar Yadav has been getting praise from all corners of the world. His emergence in the Indian T20I setup has been one for the ages as the last 12-15 months have been nothing less than a dream for 'India's Mr. 360'. 

Recently, Suryakumar sealed the top spot in the ICC T20I Batting Rankings and since then many have called him the best in the shortest format to have come from India. 

However, New Zealand's key paceman Tim Southee has calmed the debate by stating that India have had several great T20 players.

"There have been a number of great T20 players from India, so many great cricketers. Surya has been having a great 12 months and it is for him to continue to do what he has been doing," Southee said when asked a question about the India batter.

In the last T20I against New Zealand, the 32-year-old scored an authoritative hundred - which was his second ton in 2022 - but the Kiwi paceman still thinks Suryakumar has a lot to prove.

"India has produced so many amazing cricketers not only in the T20 format but also across the three formats. "He (Suryakumar) is a player who can hit in a number of ways. He has been in great form in the last 12 months -- IPL and international cricket,"  the most successful T20I pacer continued. 

Southee, who has 132 wickets in T20I cricket, will be captaining the Black Caps in the 3rd T20I against the Hardik Pandya-led Indian outfit after Kane Williamson pulled out of the game due to a pre-scheduled medical appointment.


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