Kolkata: India batter Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on his skipper Rohit Sharma, calling him a “class player” after the hosts defeated West Indies in the first T20I by 6 wickets on Wednesday. Rohit along with Ishan Kishan gave India a flying start while chasing a 158-run target. The skipper smashed four boundaries and three maximums in his 19-ball 40 and stitched a solid 64-run opening partnership with Kishan (35). “The entire world is watching how he’s (Rohit) a class player. He’s played for many years for India, he’s just batting in the same manner he always has been. When he bats in the powerplay, if his timing is right then he tries to accumulate as many runs as he can in the first 6 overs,” said Suryakumar in the virtual press conference. Suryakumar (34 not out off 18 balls) along with Venkatesh Iyer (24 not out off 13 balls) added 48 runs towards the end to take India home. Talking about Iyer, Suryakumar said, “I think when Venkatesh came into bat, his positivity was completely different and it passed onto me. He started his innings with a boundary and I felt it was the perfect platform for both of us to finish the game. “I think it was very important for me to stay till the end and win the game for my side. I’ve been in these situations many times, I used to get out earlier, and then I used to feel bad. I think the situation was perfect and I just needed to raise my hand and bail the side out. It happened, very happy to be on the winning side.” Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who made his debut for India, returned with the figures of 2/17. When asked about Bishnoi’s bowling, Suryakumar said, “It was a good opportunity for Bishnoi to be playing against one of the best teams in T20I cricket. He responded really well. “The way he bowled and backed himself, there was dew and it was not easy for spinners to grip the ball. He executed everything really well. When he was under pressure, he came back with his best ball. I think it was a perfect debut for Ravi and I’m very happy for him.” With the win, India have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India will take on West Indies in the second T20I on February 18. UNI PN
