Amid constant talk of his ABD-like playing style, Suryakumar Yadav recently said there can only be one ‘Mr 360’, but AB de Villiers himself begged to differ.
“I am very happy for Surya. I think he has come a very long way. I never saw this happening, the way he is playing.
“He was very conservative and stuck to his game plans at the start but he is now laying the platform and foundation and then starting to dominate the bowlers. It is fantastic to see that and he has a bright future ahead of him,” de Villiers told PTI from Mumbai where he launched the Last Man Stands-backed India Super League.
When asked if it is the right time to compare Surya with him, de Villiers, one of the most versatile batters in the game, said: “Yes they are. The only thing he will have to concentrate on is his consistency. He will have to do this for 5 to 10 years and then he will find himself in the golden books of cricket players.” De Villiers left the cricketing word in awe while playing some outrageous strokes all around the park. But has he been bowled over by Surya’s play? “Any player that gets into form… I think of quite a few guys that really start playing at the peak of their powers, that makes me very exciting. Each sportsman for that matter.
“It is beautiful to watch when they are really free and having fun out there. Great to watch Surya play the way he is playing now,” said the 38-year-old who retired from all forms of cricket in 2021.
