‘Suryakumar will have a big influence on T20 World Cup’

Simon Helmot

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach Simon Helmot reckons that Mumbai Indians' India batter Suryakumar Yadav will have a big influence in the T20 World Cup, to be held in USA and West Indies next month.

Thanks to Suryakumar's 51-ball 102 not out (12x4, 6x6), MI comfortably chased SRH's 173-8 to outclass visitors by seven wickets with 16 balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

"On some days you just have to take your hat off and say well played and well played to him [Suryakumar]. He's an exceptional cricketer and he's always going to demand a spot in the Indian team and I'm sure he'll have an influence in the World Cup," Helmot said during the post-match press conference on Monday night.

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Helmot, 52, who earlier coached the Australia A team that visited India in 2008, admitted that it's quite difficult for bowlers to bowl to Suryakumar. "It's very difficult [to bowl to Suryakumar] and you guys have seen him close up for many years as I have. He's a very difficult batsman to match up with when he's in that sort of frame of mind, that sort of mood," Helmot said.

Suryakumar is currently ICC T20 World No.1 batter and is a key member of the Rohit Sharma-led India World Cup-bound team.

The 2007 begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. India will then play USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.