Title: SKY has 1 straight six & four, everything else is behind: Mukund
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been a thrilling ride so far, with some exceptional performances from various players. Mumbai Indians’ (MI) Suryakumar Yadav, popularly known as SKY, has been one of the standout players of the tournament, scoring 475 runs in 8 matches. However, former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund believes that SKY’s batting style is not as varied as it seems.
In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Mukund said, “SKY has one straight four and six, and everything else is behind. From front of square till long on, Suryakumar has not scored anything.” This statement has sparked a debate among cricket fans and experts, with some agreeing with Mukund’s assessment while others disagree.
Mukund’s comment seems to suggest that SKY’s batting is largely restricted to one particular area of the field, and he doesn’t have the ability to score runs with ease in other parts of the ground. This is an interesting observation, especially considering SKY’s impressive run-scoring record in the IPL.
So, what does the data say? A closer look at SKY’s innings in IPL 2025 reveals that Mukund’s statement is partially true. SKY’s highest score in this year’s IPL is 68*, which was scored against Delhi Capitals (DC) in a match where MI won by 7 wickets. However, a deeper dive into his innings reveals that the majority of his runs have been scored in the mid-wicket region.
In his innings against DC, SKY scored 34 runs off 23 balls in the mid-wicket region, including three fours and one six. Similarly, in his innings against Rajasthan Royals (RR), SKY scored 43 runs off 25 balls, with 24 of those runs coming from the mid-wicket region. These stats do suggest that SKY is indeed more comfortable scoring runs in this particular area of the ground.
However, it’s worth noting that SKY has also shown his ability to score runs with ease in other parts of the ground. In his innings against Punjab Kings (PBKS), SKY scored 22 runs off 18 balls, including two fours and one six, with 10 of those runs coming from the fine-leg region. Similarly, in his innings against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), SKY scored 20 runs off 14 balls, with 8 of those runs coming from the cover region.
Mukund’s statement may have some truth to it, but it’s also important to remember that SKY is a skilled batsman who has adapted his game to suit the demands of the IPL. His ability to score runs in the mid-wicket region has been a key factor in MI’s success this season, and he has shown his willingness to innovate and adjust his game to suit the situation.
In conclusion, while Mukund’s statement may have some truth to it, it’s also important to remember that SKY is a skilled batsman who has adapted his game to suit the demands of the IPL. His ability to score runs in the mid-wicket region has been a key factor in MI’s success this season, and he has shown his willingness to innovate and adjust his game to suit the situation.
News Source:
https://x.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1918256655554494930
