"Stepped up against a top team in a big game" - X hails Suryakumar Yadav for crucial knock vs ENG in 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal

Indian star Suryakumar Yadav played another pivotal knock in the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal against England in Guyana on June 27. On a tacky wicket, the 33-year-old came to the crease with India in trouble at 40/2 in the sixth over.

Yet, Surya immediately found his timing and compiled a classy 47 off 36 deliveries with four boundaries and two maximums. The swashbuckling batter had already scored two half-centuries in the tournament but was caught at long-on and fell three runs short of a third fifty.

With this inning, Surya took his overall tally in the competition to 196 runs at an average of 32.66 and a strike rate of 137.06 in seven outings. He propelled India to a dominant position of 124/4 in the 16th over when his vigil ended.

Fans on Twitter praised Suryakumar Yadav for stepping up in a big match with the following reactions:

Fans continued to praise Suryakumar Yadav for his well-paced knock with one saying:

"Surya Kumar Yadav is King of T20 cricket. When he plays in his own flow, no bowler can stop him. Nice to see this inning in Semifinal of World Cup."

"Well played Surya, the minnow-bashing myth eventually diminishing," a fan said.

"Really impressed by Surya knock," tweeted a fan.

Suryakumar Yadav helps India post above-par total against England

Suryakumar Yadav's 47 helped India post an impressive 171/7 in 20 overs on a tricky Guyana wicket. After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, India lost out-of-form batter Virat Kohli and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant inside the powerplay.

However, skipper Rohit Sharma scored his second consecutive half-century and added a vital 73 runs with Surya for the third wicket. Despite the duo being dismissed in quick succession, all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored a quickfire 23 off 13. His knock, followed by Ravindra Jadeja's 9-ball 17*, helped India cross the 170-run mark.

The England spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone proved hard to get away, combining for excellent figures of 1/49 in 8 overs.

India have been unbeaten thus far in the tournament and will look to avenge their defeat to England at the same stage in the 2022 T20 World Cup. By defending 171, the Men in Blue will advance to the final to take on the other undefeated side of the competition, South Africa in Barbados on June 29.