Suryakumar Yadav needs to spend some time in the middle: Mahela Jayawardene

MI’s Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai Indians' (MI) Suryakumar Yadav is a prolific run-scorer with a tally of 2,213 from 112 IPL games. However, he has managed only 189 runs from 11 games this season. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene is impressed by the way Mumbai's right-hander is batting in the nets, but advised him to spend some time in the middle.

"I clearly understand what is going through [in Suryakumar's mind], but in the nets he is batting really well. His focus is very good. He just needs to spend some time in the middle to get his confidence back. That's not a huge concern," Jayawardene said during a pre-match virtual press conference, in reply to mid-day's question of whether Suryakumar's form is a concern for MI.

Mahela Jayawardene. Pic/Sayyed Sameeer Abedi

Suryakumar's last half-century in T20 came when he scored a 34-ball 50 during India's 38-run win over Sri Lanka in Colombo last July. However, he has four single-digit performances in the last four IPL games in UAE. "He is a very important player for us, but like many cricketers in the past, and I am sure many in the future, all batsmen go through these kind of phases in certain tournaments, including myself in the 2003 World Cup [Jayawardene scored just 21 in seven innings]," the former Sri Lanka captain explained.

The defending champions, who are placed sixth in the points table, take on in-form Delhi Capitals at Sharjah today.

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