Surya ignited the World Cup with 225 runs from five games including three fifty games with a staggering 193.97 strike rate.
He has wowed professionals and fans with his incredible breakthroughs. The 32-year-old, a late entrant to international cricket, has made hitting the ball grotesquely easy even in the harshest conditions, much like India experienced against South Africa in Perth.
Amid talk of his ABD-like playing style, Surya recently said there could only be one ‘Mr 360’, but de Villiers himself begged the difference.
“I am very happy for Surya. I think he has come a very long way. I have never seen this happen, the way he is playing.
“He was very conservative and stuck with his game plan from the start but now he’s laying the groundwork and foundation and then starting to dominate the bowlers. It’s great to see that and him there’s a bright future ahead,” de Villiers told PTI.
When asked if it was the right time to compare Surya to him, de Villiers, one of the most versatile hitters in the game, said: “That’s right. The only thing he’ll have to do is say. the focus is on his consistency. to do this for 5 to 10 years and then he will find himself in the golden book of cricketers.”
De Villiers dreaded leaving from ticket sales while playing some outrageous brushstrokes throughout the park. But is he played by Surya’s game?
“Any player who’s in top form… I think of quite a few guys who really start to play at the peak of their strength, that makes me very excited. Every single person sports for that matter. …
“It’s great to watch when they’re really free and having fun out there. It’s 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 said.
‘The four strongest teams in the T20 World Cup semi-finals but need more games’
India, England, New Zealand and Pakistan have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Australia. The tournament has seen a lot of turmoil, making it one of the most unpredictable ICC events in recent times.
Twelve teams including four from the preliminary qualifiers formed the Super 12 stage with the teams divided into two groups of six. The teams played five games in the league phase and that was not enough for de Villiers.
“I feel like the top four teams in the world are all in the semi-finals of the World Cup. I feel the need to have more games. There aren’t enough matches.
“If you have 10 teams, you play nine games and win the top four and then you have the same system as the IPL playoffs, where one player plays two, three plays four and if one or two lose, they lose. will play the winning team of three and four.
“For me it’s a fair system. 99% of the times you get the best team to win the tournament,” he said.
As for his future, de Villiers says he has no long-term plans.
“I haven’t decided anything yet. Take it easy this year and we’ll see what happens in the future.”
